JP2009184810A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the possibility of friction of a head etc. caused by warping occuring in an unused recording material before implementation of recording, in a recording device for performing recording on a recording face of the recording material. <P>SOLUTION: A thin plate-shaped first nipping plate 73 having a flat face is arranged in a bottom part of a recording paper storage chamber 71. A thin plate-shaped second nipping plate 74 also having a flat face is arranged on the back side of an opening/closing lid 12. Press springs 75 are arranged between the back face of the opening/closing lid 12 and the second nipping plate 74. Recording paper P stacked on the first nipping plate 73 is sandwiched between the first nipping plate 73 and the second nipping plate 74 by closing the opening/closing lid 12, so as to become a state pressed against the flat faces. A main substrate 91 mounted with a control circuit of an ink jet printer 50 is arranged immediately below the first nipping plate 73. Heat released from the main substrate 91 is transmitted to the first nipping plate 73, and then the transmitted heat is transmitted to the recording paper P to heat it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording surface of a recording material.

  Inkjet printers, dot impact printers, laser printers, and the like are known as recording apparatuses having a recording execution unit capable of executing recording on a recording material. In these recording apparatuses, warping of the recording material may be a problem. The warp of the recording material here refers to a state in which the recording material which is essentially flat and straight is deformed into, for example, a concave shape or a convex shape. From the viewpoint of the cause of warping, the warping of the recording material is caused by the warp that occurs in the unused recording material before recording due to the structure of the recording material, the storage environment, etc. It can be roughly divided into warpage occurring in the recording material after execution of recording due to execution.

  The warp that occurs in the recording material after execution of recording becomes a factor such as ejection failure or paper jam when the recording material is ejected. As an example of a conventional technique for preventing such discharge failure and paper jam, for example, in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a curl removing unit for removing curl of a recording material after recording is provided, A device that controls the operating conditions of the curl removing means in accordance with the post-processing mode of the post-processing device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, warpage occurring in an unused recording material before execution of recording occurs due to the structure of the recording material, the storage environment, and the like. For example, in a recording material having a multilayer structure such as a photographic paper, warping may occur due to a difference in shrinkage due to temperature and moisture absorption / desorption between the front surface (recording surface) and the back surface. The warp that occurs in an unused recording material before the execution of recording becomes a factor of so-called head rubbing, particularly in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer. Here, the head rubbing means that a recording material that is not currently in contact with a recording head, which is a means for forming dots on the recording surface of the recording material, comes into contact. Such head rubbing causes paper jams during recording, as well as scratches and dirt on the recording surface in contact with the recording head, and damage to the recording head. Become.

As an example of a conventional technique capable of reducing head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in an unused recording material before execution of recording, for example, by humidifying and drying the recording material in a feeding path, for example. There is known an ink jet printer provided with a curl correcting means for correcting the curl of the recording material by adjusting the moisture contained in the recording material (for example, paragraphs 0029 to 0039 and FIG. 5).
JP-A-5-309971 JP-A-6-198868

  The prior art described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 corrects the warp generated in an unused recording material before execution of recording only by adjusting the moisture content of the recording material by humidification and drying. Therefore, in the prior art described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to accurately detect the amount of moisture contained in the recording material and then humidify or dry the recording material with high accuracy. However, the detection method for estimating the amount of moisture contained in the recording material from only the ambient temperature and humidity of the recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 is not considered to have high detection accuracy as a practical problem. It is done.

  For this reason, the prior art described in Patent Document 2 cannot accurately perform the warped recording material in an original straight state before executing recording, and imparts moisture to the recording material. If the recording material is excessively dried or the recording material is excessively dried, the warping of the recording material may be increased. For this reason, the conventional technique described in Patent Document 2 still has a risk of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in an unused recording material before execution of recording.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is that in a recording apparatus that performs recording on a recording surface of a recording material, warping that occurs in an unused recording material before recording is performed. The object is to reduce the risk of head rubbing and the like due to this.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention includes a correction device that corrects a warp of a recording material by pressing the recording material before recording or after pressing the flat surface while heating. Recording device.

  As described above, the warp generated on the recording material before execution of recording can be forcibly extended along the flat surface by pressing the recording material before execution of recording or pressing the flat surface while heating. it can. As a result, the warped recording material can be corrected to the original straight state. Therefore, even if the recording material before recording is warped, it is possible to execute recording after always correcting the recording material to the original straight state without warping. The risk of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in the recording material can be reduced.

  Thereby, according to the recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus that performs recording on the recording surface of the recording material, the head caused by the warp generated in the unused recording material before recording is performed. The effect that the risk of rubbing or the like can be reduced is obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the first aspect described above, the correction apparatus heats a recording material using heat generated by an electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus. The recording device.

  Conventionally, the heat generated by the electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus is positively released to the outside by a cooling means such as a heat sink in order to prevent overheating of the electronic circuit. The recording apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention heats the recording material using heat generated by an electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus. As a result, the heat generated by the electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus can be used effectively, and there is an advantage that it is not necessary to provide a dedicated heat source for heating the recording material. In addition, by heating the recording material using the heat generated by the electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus, the electronic circuit in the recording apparatus can be efficiently used while simultaneously using the recording material before recording as a cooling medium. A synergistic effect of being able to be cooled is obtained.

  As a result, according to the recording apparatus described in the second aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated heat source for heating the recording material, so that the correction apparatus can be configured at low cost. An effect is obtained. In addition, since the electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus can be cooled while using the recording material before the recording is performed as a cooling medium, it is possible to greatly improve the cooling efficiency of the electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus. Is obtained. Furthermore, this makes it possible to downsize the cooling means for the electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus, so that the entire recording apparatus can be further downsized.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the second aspect described above, the correction device engages the radiator of the electronic circuit and the recording material before execution of recording so that heat can be transferred. The recording apparatus is characterized in that the recording material is heated.

  For example, circuit elements such as a CPU (central processing unit) of a microcomputer control circuit and a power transistor of a power supply circuit generate a large amount of heat. Therefore, a heat sink or the like is used to efficiently dissipate the heat and lower the temperature. It is common that it is attached. Therefore, the radiator and the recording material before recording are engaged directly or indirectly so that heat can be transferred. Thereby, the heat generated by the electronic circuit can be more efficiently transmitted to the recording material before the recording is performed. Therefore, the recording material before recording can be heated more efficiently by the heat generated by the electronic circuit, and the electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus can be more efficiently used by using the recording material before recording as a cooling medium. Can be cooled.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects described above, a feeding device that feeds a recording material placed on the placement unit to a recording execution area. And the correction device corrects the warp of the recording material placed on the placement portion.

  The recording material that has been placed on the placement unit and has not yet been recorded is warped by the correction device in the placement unit before being fed to the recording execution area by the feeding device and is in an original straight state. Become. As a result, recording can be performed by feeding the recording material in an original straight state without warping. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the possibility of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in an unused recording material before execution of recording.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects described above, a feeding device that feeds a recording material placed on the placement unit to a recording execution area. And the correction device corrects the warping of the recording material in the feeding path of the recording material by the feeding device.

  The recording material placed on the placement unit before the recording is executed is corrected by the correction device in the feeding path in the middle of being fed to the recording execution area by the feeding device, and becomes an original straight state. . As a result, recording can be performed by feeding the recording material in an original straight state without warping. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the possibility of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in an unused recording material before execution of recording.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects described above, a feeding device that feeds a recording material placed on the placement unit to a recording execution area. The correction apparatus includes a state in which the recording material is fed from the state where the recording material is placed on the placing portion to the recording execution area via the feeding path by the feeding device. A recording apparatus characterized by correcting warping of a recording material.

  The recording material that has been placed on the placement unit and that has not yet been recorded is fed from the state in which the recording material is placed on the placement unit to the recording execution area through the feeding path by the feeding device. In the meantime, the warp is corrected by the correction device, and the original straight state is obtained. As a result, recording can be performed by feeding the recording material in an original straight state without warping. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the possibility of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in an unused recording material before execution of recording.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects described above, the placement section is disposed in a storage chamber for storing a recording material before execution of recording. And a humidifying device for humidifying the inside of the storage chamber.

  Warpage that occurs in an unused recording material before recording is likely to occur particularly in an environment where the humidity is low and the air is dry, and conversely, it hardly occurs in an environment where the humidity exceeds a certain level. Therefore, if the storage chamber for storing the recording material before execution of recording is humidified by the humidifying device so that the humidity exceeds a certain level, the possibility of warping of the recording material in the storage chamber can be reduced. it can. As a result, it is possible to prevent warping of the recording material before execution of recording, so that recording can be executed by feeding the recording material in an original straight state without warping. In addition, even if warpage has already occurred in the recording material before being stored in the storage chamber, the warp can be corrected by the correction device, so even in such a case, the recording in an original straight state without warping. Recording can be performed by feeding the material.

  Thereby, according to the recording apparatus as described in the 7th aspect of this invention, in addition to the means (correcting apparatus) which correct | amends the curvature after the curvature to the to-be-recorded material before recording execution arises, it is further recorded. By providing a means (humidifier) for preventing warping of the recording material before execution, it is possible to further reduce the risk of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in an unused recording material before execution of recording. The effect is obtained.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the seventh aspect described above, the recording head that forms dots by ejecting ink onto the recording surface of the recording material, and the recording when recording is not performed. A recording head maintenance device for maintaining a head, wherein the humidifying device humidifies the storage chamber using moisture contained in waste ink generated in the recording head maintenance device. is there.

  In a recording apparatus having a recording head that forms dots by ejecting ink onto the recording surface of a recording material, if the recording head is left open for a long time without performing recording, Ink in the ink ejection nozzles is dried and solidified, resulting in nozzle clogging. When this nozzle clogging occurs, even if the ink ejection nozzle is driven, ink is not ejected and dot missing occurs, resulting in a decrease in recording image quality and the like. Therefore, in such a recording apparatus, when recording is not performed, the head surface of the recording head is sealed to prevent drying, or the head surface is sucked to eliminate nozzle clogging, so that the state of the recording head In general, a recording head maintenance device (so-called an ink system or a capping device) that always maintains a state where normal ink ejection is possible is provided.

  In this recording head maintenance device, ink discarded from the ink ejection nozzles of the recording head for maintenance is accumulated as waste ink in an absorbent material in the recording device and discarded. In the conventional recording apparatus, the water contained in the waste ink is spontaneously evaporated from the waste ink accumulated in the absorber or the like, or mixed with the exhaust of a suction pump or the like that sucks the head surface and released into the atmosphere. It was being done.

  In the recording apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, moisture contained in the waste ink accumulated in the recording apparatus is used for humidifying the storage chamber by the humidifier. As a result, the water contained in the waste ink to be discarded can be used effectively, and the accommodation chamber can be humidified without supplying humidification water from the outside to the recording apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to save the user's trouble of supplying humidifying water to the recording apparatus. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide an installation space for a humidifying water tank or the like in the recording apparatus, it is possible to prevent an increase in the size of the recording apparatus caused by newly providing a humidifying water tank or the like in the recording apparatus.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording head that forms dots by ejecting ink onto a recording surface of a recording material, a recording head maintenance device that performs maintenance of the recording head when recording is not performed, and recording execution A storage chamber for storing the previous recording material; and a humidifying device for humidifying the storage chamber, wherein the humidifying device uses the moisture contained in the waste ink generated in the recording head maintenance device to store the storage chamber. The recording apparatus is characterized by being humidified.

  As described above, warping that occurs in an unused recording material before execution of recording is likely to occur particularly in an environment where the humidity is low and the air is dry, and conversely, it hardly occurs in an environment where the humidity is above a certain level. Therefore, if the storage chamber for storing the recording material before execution of recording is humidified by the humidifying device so as to have a certain level of humidity, the possibility of warping of the recording material in the storage chamber can be reduced. . As a result, it is possible to prevent warping of the recording material before execution of recording, so that recording can be executed by feeding the recording material in an original straight state without warping.

  Thus, according to the recording apparatus of the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the risk of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in an unused recording material before execution of recording can be reduced. can get.

  In the recording apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the moisture contained in the waste ink accumulated in the recording apparatus is used for humidifying the storage chamber by the humidifier. As a result, the water contained in the waste ink to be discarded can be used effectively, and the accommodation chamber can be humidified without supplying humidification water from the outside to the recording apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to save the user's trouble of supplying humidifying water to the recording apparatus. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a humidifying water tank or the like in the recording apparatus, it is possible to prevent the recording apparatus from being enlarged by newly providing a humidifying water tank or the like in the recording apparatus.

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

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a first embodiment of an ink jet printer 50 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of an essential part thereof. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the automatic feeding device 70.

First, a schematic configuration of an inkjet printer 50 as a “recording apparatus” according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The ink jet printer 50 includes an automatic feeding device 70 for feeding the recording paper P as a “recording material” to the inside of the ink jet printer 50. The ink jet printer 50 includes a transport driving roller 51 and a transport driven roller 52 as means for transporting the recording paper P supported by the platen 53 in the transport direction Y. Further, the ink jet printer 50 includes a recording head 62 as means for forming dots by ejecting ink onto the recording surface of the recording paper P supported by the platen 53. Further, the inkjet printer 50 includes a discharge driving roller 54 and a discharge driven roller 55 as means for discharging the recording paper P after execution of recording in the transport direction Y.

  The transport drive roller 51 has a high friction coating on the surface, and rotates by receiving a drive force of a transport motor (not shown) as a “drive force source”. The transport driven roller 52 is pivotally supported so as to be driven to rotate, and is urged against the outer peripheral surface of the transport drive roller 51 by a biasing means such as a spring (not shown). The recording paper P fed by the automatic feeding device 70 is sandwiched between the transport driving roller 51 and the transport driven roller 52, and moves on the platen 53 by a predetermined transport amount in the transport direction Y by the driving rotation of the transport driving roller 51. Be transported. A known paper detector 33 for detecting the position of the recording paper P in the transport direction Y is disposed upstream of the transport driving roller 51 in the transport direction Y.

  The recording head 62 is disposed at the bottom of the carriage 61. A large number of ejection nozzles (not shown) for ejecting ink are disposed on the head surface of the recording head 62. The carriage 61 reciprocates in the width direction X (direction intersecting the transport direction Y) of the recording paper P while maintaining the state in which the head surface of the recording head 62 and the recording surface of the recording paper P on the platen 53 are substantially parallel. The carriage guide shaft 56 is supported so as to be movable. The carriage 61 is endlessly hung between a drive pulley (not shown) disposed on the rotation shaft of the carriage drive motor 63 and a driven pulley (not shown) supported so as to be driven to rotate. A belt (not shown) is connected, and the rotational driving force of the carriage driving motor 63 is transmitted through the endless belt to reciprocate in the width direction X. A known PW sensor 34 for detecting the position of the recording paper P in the width direction X and the like is also provided at the bottom of the carriage 61.

  A known capping device 57 is provided on one side of the reciprocating region of the carriage 61. In a standby state in which recording is not performed, the carriage 61 moves over the capping device 57 and stops, and the head surface of the recording head 62 is sealed by the cap CP provided in the capping device 57. The stop position of the carriage 61 is defined as a home position HP.

  The platen 53 has a large number of platen ribs (not shown) formed along the conveyance direction Y of the recording paper P. The recording paper P conveyed on the platen 53 is supported from the back side at the top of the platen rib. In the area of the recording paper P supported by the platen 53, dots are formed on the recording surface by the recording head 62 and recording is performed (recording execution area). The distance between the head surface of the recording head 62 and the recording surface of the recording paper P is defined by the top of the platen rib.

  The recording paper P conveyed on the platen 53 is configured to eject dots from the head surface of the recording head 62 to the recording surface of the recording paper P while the carriage 61 reciprocates in the width direction X, Recording on the recording surface is executed by alternately repeating the operation of conveying the sheet in the conveying direction Y by a predetermined rotation amount by driving rotation of the driving roller 51. The recording paper P after ink ejection is sandwiched between the discharge driving roller 54 and the discharge driven roller 55, conveyed in the conveyance direction Y by the driving rotation of the discharge driving roller 54, and discharged. A series of these recording controls is executed by a control circuit (not shown).

It continues and demonstrates the structure of the automatic feeding apparatus 70, referring FIGS. 1-3.
The automatic feeding device 70 as a “feeding device” includes a recording paper storage chamber 71, a feeding roller 72, a first clamping plate 73, a second clamping plate 74, a pressing spring 75, a feeding driven roller 76, and a feeding roller. A transmission path 77 is provided.

  In the recording paper storage chamber 71 as the “loading unit” and the “storage chamber”, the recording paper P fed by the automatic feeding device 70 is placed and accommodated. The recording paper storage chamber 71 is provided with an opening / closing lid 12, and the opening / closing lid 12 is pivotally supported by the housing 11 of the ink jet printer 50 by the opening / closing shaft portion 13 so as to be opened and closed in the direction indicated by the symbol A. ing. The feeding roller 72 is pivotally supported by a roller holder 721, and the roller holder 721 is supported by a shaft portion 722 so as to be swingable. The feeding roller 72 is rotated by receiving a rotational driving force of a feeding motor (not shown). The first clamping plate 73, the second clamping plate 74, and the pressing spring 75 press the recording paper P stored before recording in the recording paper storage chamber 71 against a flat surface while heating the recording paper P, and warp the recording paper P. Configure a “correcting device” to correct.

  A thin plate-like first sandwiching plate 73 having a flat surface is disposed at the bottom of the recording paper storage chamber 71. Similarly, a thin plate-like second clamping plate 74 having a flat surface is disposed on the back side of the opening / closing lid 12. A pressing spring 75 is disposed between the back side of the opening / closing lid 12 and the second clamping plate 74. The recording sheets P stacked on the first sandwiching plate 73 are sandwiched between the first sandwiching plate 73 and the second sandwiching plate 74 by closing the open / close lid 12 and are pressed against the flat surface. . Further, when the opening / closing lid 12 is opened, the holding of the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is released.

  A main board 91 on which a control circuit for the ink jet printer 50 is mounted is disposed immediately below the first clamping plate 73. On the main board 91, electronic components such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) are mounted to constitute an “electronic circuit”. The heat generated by the main substrate 91 is transmitted to the first sandwiching plate 73, and the heat is transmitted to the recording paper P to heat the recording paper P.

  Here, in order to more efficiently transfer the heat generated by the main substrate 91 to the recording paper P, it is preferable that the first sandwiching plate 73 be formed of a metal plate or the like having good heat transfer efficiency. Further, the first clamping plate 73 directly or indirectly transfers heat to a radiator such as a heat sink attached to a circuit element such as a CPU (central processing unit) of a control circuit of the main board 91 and a power transistor of a power supply circuit. It is preferable that the engagement is possible. Since these circuit elements generate a large amount of heat, the recording paper P can be heated more efficiently by transferring more heat to the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71. At the same time, since these circuit elements can be efficiently cooled by using the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 as a cooling medium, it is possible to reduce the size of a heat sink such as a heat sink. .

  As described above, the “correction device” performs recording by pressing the recording paper P before recording on the flat surfaces of the first sandwiching plate 73 and the second sandwiching plate 74 while heating with the heat generated by the main substrate 91. The warp generated in the previous recording paper P can be forcibly extended along the flat surface. As a result, the warped recording paper P can be corrected to the original straight state. Therefore, even if the recording paper P before the recording is warped, the recording paper P can always be corrected to an original straight state without warping.

  Then, the recording paper P corrected to the original straight state by the “correcting device” is sent to the feeding path 77 by the rotation of the feeding roller 72 and fed along the feeding path 77 ( Symbol B). At this time, the recording paper P other than the lowest recording paper P to be fed is locked by the separating member 78 in the vicinity of the entrance portion of the feeding path 77, and thereby the weight of the recording paper P is increased. Sending is prevented. In addition, you may provide a well-known separation pad, a retard roller, etc. as a separation means. The recording paper P delivered to the feeding path 77 is sandwiched between an intermediate driving roller 81 and an intermediate driven roller 82 disposed in the feeding path 77, and is directed toward the transport driving roller 51 by the driving rotation of the intermediate driving roller 81. Are sent.

  In this way, the ink jet printer 50 according to the present invention always performs recording after correcting the recording paper P to an original straight state without warping even if the recording paper P before the recording is warped. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in the unused recording paper P before recording.

  Incidentally, the recording paper P stacked and stored in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is held in a state of being held between the first holding plate 73 and the second holding plate 74 as described above. That is, the recording sheet P at the lowest position of the stacked recording sheets P is pressed with the first clamping plate 73 in surface contact. Therefore, if it is going to feed the recording paper P at the lowest position as it is, depending on the frictional resistance of the contact surface with the first clamping plate 73, a large feeding load is generated and the recording surface of the recording paper P is applied. There is a risk of scratching.

  In order to prevent this, when the recording paper P is fed, the recording paper P (recording material to be fed) at the lowest position of the recording paper storage chamber 71 and the recording paper P are in contact with the recording paper P. It is preferable that the first clamping plate 73 is relatively separated. The automatic feeding device 70 in the first embodiment is configured to be in such a state, and will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in the figure, ten feeding follower rollers 76 are arranged at substantially equal intervals at positions facing the recording surface (lower surface) of the recording paper P at the lowest position of the recording paper storage chamber 71. . Further, as shown in the drawing, a through hole 732 is formed in a portion corresponding to the feeding roller 72, and a through hole 731 is formed in a portion corresponding to each feeding driven roller 76 in the first clamping plate 73. (Fig. 3).

FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the main part of the automatic feeding device 70.
The feeding roller 72 and the ten driven rollers 76 are disposed so as to be displaceable to a position where they abut on the lowest recording paper P1. On the other hand, the first clamping plate 73 that is in contact with the lowest recording paper P1 is fixedly disposed and does not move.

  When feeding the recording paper P, first, the feeding roller 72 and the ten driven rollers 76 are displaced in the direction indicated by C, and the outer peripheral surface of the recording paper P1 is the lowest recording paper P1. The state is in contact with the (lower surface). Then, from that state, the feeding roller 72 and the ten driven rollers 76 are further displaced in the direction indicated by symbol C, and the recording surface of the lowermost recording paper P1 and the first clamping plate 73 The recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is pushed in the direction in which the recording paper is separated (the direction indicated by reference numeral C). As a result, the recording paper P1 at the lowest position of the recording paper storage chamber 71 (the recording material to be fed) and the first clamping plate 73 that is in contact with the lowest recording paper P1 are relatively separated from each other. (FIG. 4A).

  From this state, the feeding roller 72 is rotated in the rotation direction indicated by the symbol D. The lowest-order recording paper P1 is conveyed in the direction indicated by symbol E by the frictional force acting on the contact surface with the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller 72 and is sent out to the feeding path 77. At this time, the ten following driven rollers 76 in contact with the recording surface of the lowermost recording paper P1 are driven to rotate in the rotation direction indicated by the symbol F following the feeding of the lowermost recording paper P1. (FIG. 4B). Thereby, the feeding load when feeding the lowest recording paper P1 is greatly reduced, and the possibility that the recording surface of the fed recording paper P1 is damaged is greatly reduced. it can.

  Then, after the rear end of the fed lowermost recording paper P1 is pulled out of the recording paper storage chamber 71, the feeding roller 72 and the ten feeding driven rollers 76 are displaced to their original positions. As a result, it is possible to return to the standby state in which the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is held between the first holding plate 73 and the second holding plate 74.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an essential part schematically illustrating another embodiment of the automatic feeding device 70.
In this embodiment, the first clamping plate 73 that is in contact with the lowest-order recording paper P1 is disposed so as to be displaceable in a direction away from the lowest-order recording paper P1 (direction indicated by reference numeral G). . On the other hand, the feeding roller 72 and the ten feeding driven rollers 76 are fixedly disposed and are not displaced. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the above embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  When feeding the recording paper P, first, the first clamping plate 73 is displaced in the direction indicated by the symbol G. As a result, the outer peripheral surfaces of the feeding roller 72 and the ten feeding driven rollers 76 are in contact with the recording surface (lower surface) of the lowest recording paper P1. And the 1st clamping board 73 is further displaced to the direction shown with the code | symbol G from the state. As a result, the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is supported by the feeding roller 72 and the ten driven rollers 76 from the recording surface side of the lowermost recording paper P1. The recording paper P1 (recording material to be fed) at the lowest position of the chamber 71 and the first clamping plate 73 in contact with the recording paper P1 are relatively separated from each other (FIG. 5A). .

  From this state, the feeding roller 72 is rotated in the rotation direction indicated by the symbol D. The lowest-order recording paper P1 is conveyed in the direction indicated by symbol E by the frictional force acting on the contact surface with the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller 72 and is sent out to the feeding path 77. At this time, the ten following driven rollers 76 in contact with the recording surface of the lowermost recording paper P1 are driven to rotate in the rotation direction indicated by the symbol F following the feeding of the lowermost recording paper P1. (FIG. 5B). Thereby, the feeding load when feeding the lowest recording paper P1 is greatly reduced, and the possibility that the recording surface of the fed recording paper P1 is damaged is greatly reduced. it can.

  Then, after the rear end of the fed lowermost recording paper P1 is pulled out of the recording paper storage chamber 71, the first clamping plate 73 is displaced to the original position. As a result, it is possible to return to the standby state in which the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is held between the first holding plate 73 and the second holding plate 74.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the inkjet printer 50 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the ink jet printer 50 according to the present invention.
The ink jet printer 50 of the second embodiment includes a communication path 15 as a “humidifying device” in addition to the ink jet printer 50 of the first embodiment. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the ink jet printer 50 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  A capping device 57 as a “recording head maintenance device” is a device that performs maintenance of the recording head 62 when recording is not performed. The capping device 57 is a known device provided in a general ink jet printer, and seals the head surface of the recording head 62 with a cap CP when recording is not performed. Drying can be prevented. A large number of capping devices 57 are arranged on the head surface by sucking the head surface of the recording head 62 with the suction force of the pump unit 571 while the head surface of the recording head 62 is sealed with the cap CP. The nozzle clogging of the ink ejection nozzle (not shown) can be eliminated. The waste ink sucked by the pump unit 571 is discharged from the waste ink discharge port 572 to the waste ink storage unit 14 disposed at the bottom of the inkjet printer 50, collected, and stored in the state absorbed by the ink absorber 141. (Symbol H).

  The communication path 15 is for humidifying the inside of the recording paper storage chamber 71 using the moisture of the waste ink collected in the waste ink storage section 14. As described above, warping that occurs on unused recording paper P before recording is likely to occur particularly in an environment where the humidity is low and the air is dry, and conversely, it hardly occurs in an environment where the humidity exceeds a certain level. Therefore, if the recording paper storage chamber 71 that stores the recording paper P before execution of recording is humidified to a certain level or higher, warping of the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 can be prevented. Therefore, the possibility that the recording paper P before the recording is warped can be reduced.

  More specifically, the waste ink container 14 is a substantially sealed space. The communication path 15 allows the waste ink storage unit 14 and the recording paper storage chamber 71 to communicate with each other. The air in the waste ink container 14 which is a substantially sealed space is in a high humidity state due to evaporation of water contained in the waste ink released from the capping device 57. Then, the high-humidity air is supplied directly below the recording paper storage chamber 71 through the communication path 15, thereby realizing humidification in the recording paper storage chamber 71 using moisture contained in the waste ink. (Code J). Furthermore, a cooling effect of the main board 91 immediately below the recording paper storage chamber 71 can be expected. The humidity of the recording paper storage chamber 71 is preferably about 40 to 50% although it depends on the characteristics of the recording paper P and the like.

  Further, even when the recording paper P before the recording has already been warped, the warping can be corrected by the “correcting device”. Therefore, even in such a case, the recording paper P is straight without any warpage. Recording can be executed after correcting to a correct state. That is, in the second embodiment of the ink jet printer 50 according to the present invention, in addition to the means (correcting device) for correcting the warp after the warp has occurred in the recording paper P before the recording is performed, the recording paper P before the recording is further performed. By providing a means (humidifying device) for preventing warping of the recording paper P, it is possible to further reduce the possibility of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring on the unused recording paper P before execution of recording.

  Further, by humidifying the recording paper storage chamber 71 using the moisture contained in the waste ink generated in the capping device 57, the moisture contained in the discarded waste ink can be used effectively, and the water for humidification can be used. The recording paper storage chamber 71 can be humidified without supplying the ink to the ink jet printer 50 from the outside. Therefore, it is possible to save the user's trouble of supplying the humidifying water to the inkjet printer 50. Further, since there is no need to provide a water tank for humidification or the like in the ink jet printer 50, it is possible to prevent the ink jet printer 50 from being enlarged by newly providing an installation space for the water tank for humidification or the like in the ink jet printer 50. .

<Third embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the inkjet printer 50 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a third embodiment of the ink jet printer 50 according to the present invention.
The ink jet printer 50 according to the third embodiment includes a “correcting device” that corrects the warp of the recording paper P by heating the recording paper P before recording and pressing the recording paper P against a flat surface. More specifically, the ink jet printer 50 of the third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in that the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is heated by the heat generated by the main substrate 91. The means for pressing P against the flat surface is different from the first embodiment in that it is not provided in the recording paper storage chamber 71 but is provided in the feeding path 77. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the ink jet printer 50 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  In the feeding path 77, a flat portion 16 constituting a “flat surface” and a pressing roller 83 that presses the recording paper P against the flat portion 16 are disposed. The flat portion 16 provided on the inner wall surface of the feeding path 77 is a flat surface that comes into surface contact with the recording paper P fed through the feeding path 77. The pressing roller 83 is a driven roller that is pivotally supported so as to be driven to rotate. The outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller 83 is in contact with the flat portion 16 in a state where the pressing roller 83 is urged by the urging means (not shown). The recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is heated by the heat generated by the main substrate 91, then sent to the feeding path 77 by the feeding roller 72, and flattened by the pressing roller 83 in the flat portion 16 of the feeding path 77. It is fed while being pressed by the part 16.

  That is, the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is heated in the recording paper storage chamber 71 and then pressurized in the feeding path 77. Accordingly, the warp generated on the recording paper P before the recording can be forcibly extended, so that the warped recording paper P can be corrected to the original straight state. In this way, the warp of the recording paper P is corrected during the period from when the recording paper P is placed in the recording paper storage chamber 71 to when the recording paper P is fed through the feeding path 77 by the automatic feeding device 70. Even if this is done, the present invention can be carried out, and the possibility of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in the unused recording paper P before execution of recording can be reduced.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the ink jet printer 50 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the ink jet printer 50 according to the present invention.
The ink jet printer 50 according to the fourth embodiment includes a “correcting device” that corrects the warp of the recording paper P by pressing the recording paper P before recording on the flat surface while heating the recording paper P in the feeding path 77. .

  More specifically, the feed path 77 is provided with a flat portion 16 and a pressing roller 83 that presses the recording paper P against the flat portion 16 as in the third embodiment. . On the other hand, the housing 11 of the ink jet printer 50 of the fourth embodiment is provided with a battery pack housing portion 17 for housing the battery pack 92 in the vicinity of the feeding path 77 as shown in the figure. The battery pack 92 is, for example, a lithium ion battery or the like, and is used as a power source for the inkjet printer 50. Heat generated from the battery pack 92 is transmitted to a portion of the feeding path 77 where the pressing roller 83 is disposed. At this time, in order to more efficiently transmit the heat generated by the battery pack 92 to the feeding path 77, a communication hole (not shown) is provided between the battery pack housing portion 17 and the feeding path 77. More preferred. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the ink jet printer 50 of the third embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  The recording paper P fed from the recording paper storage chamber 71 to the feeding path 77 is pressed against the flat part 16 by the pressing roller 83 while being heated by the heat generated by the battery pack 92 in the flat part 16 of the feeding path 77. Is done. Accordingly, the warp generated on the recording paper P before the recording can be forcibly extended, so that the warped recording paper P can be corrected to the original straight state. In this way, in the feeding path 77, the recording paper P before execution of recording is pressed against a flat surface while being heated, so that the warp of the recording paper P is corrected while being fed through the feeding path 77. However, the present invention can be carried out, and the possibility of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring in the unused recording paper P before execution of recording can be reduced. Note that the main substrate 91 may be disposed in the vicinity of the feeding path 77 and the recording paper P in the feeding path 77 may be heated by the heat generated by the main board 91.

  Further, the ink jet printer 50 of the fourth embodiment is provided with a communication passage 15 as a “humidifying device” as in the second embodiment. The communication path 15 of the fourth embodiment connects the waste ink storage unit 14 and the feed path 77. The communication path 15 and the feeding path 77 communicate with each other through three communication holes 151. As described above, the waste ink storage unit 14 releases waste ink from the waste ink discharge port 572 of the capping device 57 (symbol H), and the waste ink evaporated in the waste ink storage unit 14 which is a substantially sealed space. It becomes a high humidity state due to moisture.

  High-humidity air in the waste ink storage unit 14 is supplied from the communication path 15 to the feeding path 77 through the communication hole 151 (reference numeral J), and further supplied to the recording paper storage chamber 71 through the feeding path 77. As a result, the moisture contained in the waste ink can be used to humidify the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71, so that the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 is warped as in the second embodiment. Can be prevented.

<Fifth embodiment>
Next, a fifth embodiment of the inkjet printer 50 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the ink jet printer 50 according to the present invention.
The inkjet printer 50 of the fifth embodiment does not include the “correcting device” included in the inkjet printer 50 of the first to fourth embodiments. On the other hand, the ink jet printer 50 of the fifth embodiment includes the communication path 15 similar to that of the second embodiment. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the ink jet printer 50 of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, the waste ink storage unit 14 is in a high humidity state due to the waste ink discharged from the waste ink discharge port 572 of the capping device 57 (symbol H) and the moisture of the evaporated waste ink. The high-humidity air in the waste ink storage unit 14 is supplied to the recording paper storage chamber 71 through the communication path 15 (reference numeral J). Accordingly, since the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 can be humidified using moisture contained in the waste ink, it is possible to prevent the recording paper P in the recording paper storage chamber 71 from warping. it can. Accordingly, since the recording sheet P in an original straight state with no warpage can be fed and recording can be performed, there is a risk of head rubbing or the like due to warpage occurring on the unused recording sheet P before recording. Can be reduced.

  Further, by humidifying the recording paper storage chamber 71 using the moisture contained in the waste ink generated in the capping device 57, the moisture contained in the discarded waste ink can be used effectively, and the water for humidification can be used. The recording paper storage chamber 71 can be humidified without supplying the ink to the ink jet printer 50 from the outside. Therefore, it is possible to save the user's trouble of supplying the humidifying water to the inkjet printer 50. Further, since there is no need to provide a water tank for humidification or the like in the ink jet printer 50, it is possible to prevent the ink jet printer 50 from being enlarged by newly providing an installation space for the water tank for humidification or the like in the ink jet printer 50. .

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 is a side sectional view of a first embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a main part of a first embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. The principal part perspective view of an automatic feeding apparatus. The side view which illustrated the principal part of the automatic feeding apparatus typically. The side view which illustrated the other Example of the automatic feeding apparatus typically. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a second embodiment of the ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a third embodiment of the ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the ink jet printer according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

12 Opening / Closing Cover, 14 Waste Ink Storage Unit, 15 Communication Path, 16 Flat Part, 50 Inkjet Printer, 51 Transport Drive Roller, 52 Transport Driven Roller, 53 Platen, 54 Discharge Drive Roller, 55 Discharge Driven Roller, 56 Carriage Guide Shaft, 61 Carriage, 62 Recording head, 70 Automatic feeding device, 71 Recording paper storage chamber, 72 Feeding roller, 73 First sandwiching plate, 74 Second sandwiching plate, 75 Pressing spring, 76 Feeding follower roller, 77 Feeding Feed path, 78 Separating member, 83 Pressure roller, 91 Main board, 92 Battery pack, P recording paper, X width direction, Y transport direction

Claims (8)

  A recording apparatus provided with a correction device that corrects a warp of a recording material by heating the recording material before recording or pressing the recording material while heating.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction device heats a recording material using heat generated by an electronic circuit inside the recording apparatus.   3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the correction device heats the recording material by engaging the radiator of the electronic circuit and the recording material before execution of recording so that heat can be transferred. Recording device.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a feeding device that feeds a recording material placed on the placement unit to a recording execution area, and the correction device includes A recording apparatus characterized by correcting warping of a recording material placed on a section.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a feeding device that feeds a recording material placed on the placement unit to a recording execution area, wherein the correction device includes the recording material. Between the state where the recording material is placed on the placement unit and the time when the feeding device feeds the recording execution area via the feeding path to the recording execution area. Recording device.   6. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mounting portion is disposed in a storage chamber for storing a recording material before execution of recording, and includes a humidifying device for humidifying the storage chamber. A recording apparatus characterized by that. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the recording head forms dots by ejecting ink onto a recording surface of a recording material;
A recording head maintenance device that performs maintenance of the recording head when recording is not performed,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidifying device humidifies the storage chamber using moisture contained in waste ink generated in the recording head maintenance device. A recording head that forms dots by ejecting ink onto the recording surface of the recording material;
A recording head maintenance device that performs maintenance of the recording head when recording is not performed;
A storage chamber for storing a recording material before recording is performed;
A humidifier for humidifying the storage chamber,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the humidifying device humidifies the storage chamber using moisture contained in waste ink generated in the recording head maintenance device.

Images