JP2010082840A - Inkjet recording apparatus and frame-less recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means whereby a sheet is surely supported in an image recordable region by a recording head in the so-called frame-less recording and an apparatus can be miniaturized. <P>SOLUTION: A printer part 11 comprises a platen 42 which supports a recording paper sheet 17, the recording head 39 which faces the platen 42, a first supporting part 45 and a second supporting part 46 which are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side of a conveyance direction 101, respectively, to the recordable region 109 of the platen 42, a third supporting part 54 which can move to a first position P1 and a second position P2, a driving mechanism 48 which moves the third supporting part 54, and a control part 64 which carries out frame-less recording by moving the third supporting part 54 to the first position P1 or second position P2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus and a marginless recording method for performing marginless recording by selectively ejecting ink droplets from a recording head onto a sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet type image recording apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as “ink jet recording apparatus”) that records an image on recording paper (sheet) using ink is known. This ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head, and selectively ejects ink droplets from a nozzle of the recording head toward a recording paper based on image data. The ink droplets land on the recording paper, whereby a desired image is recorded on the recording paper. In an ink jet recording apparatus, a plurality of recording sheets are stored in a box-shaped or tray-shaped space called a sheet feeding cassette or a sheet feeding tray, and are fed immediately below the recording head when image recording is performed. The A platen for an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as “platen”) is provided immediately below the recording head, and the recording paper faces the recording head by a rib or the like provided on the platen or the platen. Supported by the state.

  By the way, in recent years, digital cameras have become widespread, and so-called home photo printing, in which image data taken with a digital camera is recorded on a dedicated recording sheet, has been widely performed. There is known a recording method for recording an image on a recording sheet without providing a margin at the periphery of the recording sheet when such a photographic image is recorded on a dedicated recording sheet. It is called a record. In borderless recording, ink droplets are ejected from the recording head to substantially the same position or outside as the periphery of the recording paper. For this reason, in borderless recording, ink droplets that have not landed on the recording paper may land on the platen. In order to prevent ink droplets that have landed on the platen from adhering to the back surface of the recording paper, the platen is provided with an ink receiving portion that is recessed to a lower position such as a rib that supports the recording paper. In borderless recording, control is performed so that ink droplets are not ejected from the recording head to the vicinity of the rib until the recording sheet covers the rib of the platen.

  Further, in the borderless recording described above, the recording head discharges ink droplets in a wide area to increase the recording speed, and to support the recording paper in parallel with the recording head, a movable rib (movable support) Have been proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 4). In this configuration, a groove that is provided on the platen and extends in the conveyance direction is formed with a groove in which the recording paper cannot contact at a position corresponding to an image recordable area by the recording head, and the groove slides in the conveyance direction of the recording paper. A movable rib is provided. As a result, the ink droplets that have not landed on the recording paper in borderless recording land on the groove of the rib, so that the ink droplets in the groove do not adhere to the recording paper conveyed thereafter. Further, in the groove of the rib, the movable rib that is slid according to the position of the front end or the rear end of the recording paper supports the recording paper, so that the recording surface is parallel to the recording head on the groove. The paper is supported.

JP 2006-326990 A JP 2007-118480 A JP 2007-175971 A JP 2007-176093 A

  However, in the borderless recording described above, in order to move the movable rib outside the image recordable area by the recording head, areas for retracting the movable rib may be provided on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction of the platen. Necessary. As a result, the platen becomes larger in the conveying direction, which is contrary to the downsizing of the apparatus.

  Further, as described above, in order for the movable rib to follow the conveyance of the recording paper, it is necessary to provide a drive mechanism that can be tuned to the recording paper conveyance mechanism. As a result, since the number of parts of the apparatus increases, the configuration becomes complicated and the assembling work becomes complicated, which is contrary to downsizing and cost reduction of the apparatus.

  By the way, in the recording head described above, a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink droplets are arranged in a line along the conveyance direction of the recording paper. In so-called borderless recording using such a recording head, in order to realize high-speed image recording, it is desirable that image recording can be performed using all the ejection openings on the front end side and the rear end side of the recording paper. . If a fixed rib that does not move in the transport direction is provided instead of the movable rib described above, borderless recording cannot be performed on the leading end side until the leading end of the recording paper covers the fixed rib, or fixed. Since marginless recording is performed by restricting a part of the ejection port of the recording head so that ink droplets do not adhere to the ribs, it is difficult to achieve high-speed image recording.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to ensure that a sheet is reliably supported in an image recordable area by a recording head in so-called borderless recording, and the size of the apparatus is small. It is to provide a means capable of realizing the conversion.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide means for reliably supporting a sheet in an image recordable area by a recording head in so-called borderless recording, and realizing high-speed image recording and downsizing of the apparatus. There is to do.

  (1) An inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a platen that supports a sheet on an upper surface thereof, a conveyance mechanism that conveys the sheet onto the platen, and a sheet that is disposed so as to face the upper surface of the platen. A recording head that selectively ejects ink droplets from each of the ejection ports toward the upper surface of the platen from a plurality of ejection ports arranged in a row in the transport direction, and protrudes from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head, A first support portion and a second support portion disposed upstream and downstream in the transport direction from a recordable region in which all discharge ports capable of discharging ink droplets are arranged in the recording head; and an upper surface of the platen Projecting toward the recording head from at least the first position on the upstream side and the first position on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction in at least the recordable area. A third support portion that is movable to a position; a drive mechanism that moves the third support portion to at least the first position and the second position; and a third support portion that corresponds to the leading edge position or the trailing edge position of the sheet. And control means for performing borderless recording by selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head onto the sheet by positioning the support portion at the first position or the second position.

  The ink jet recording apparatus can perform borderless recording. In borderless recording, the sheet is conveyed onto the platen by the conveyance mechanism. The leading end side of the sheet conveyed on the platen is supported by the first support portion. When the leading edge of the sheet enters the recordable area, ink droplets are selectively ejected from the ejection port of the recording head, for example, while the sheet is being transported intermittently. Thereby, marginless recording is performed on the leading end side of the sheet. When the sheet on the platen is further conveyed, the leading end side of the sheet is supported by the second support portion. When the trailing edge of the sheet enters the recordable area, borderless recording is performed on the trailing edge side of the sheet.

  In such a marginless recording on the leading edge side or the trailing edge side of the sheet, the third support portion is positioned at the first position or the second position. Ink droplets are prevented from adhering to the third support portion by moving the third support portion while avoiding the protruding area where the ink droplets land from the front end or the rear end of the sheet or from the front end or the rear end. Is done. Further, when the sheet is conveyed while covering the third support portion positioned at the first position or the second position, the sheet is supported by the third support portion, and thus the sheet is supported by the first support portion and the second support portion. It is prevented from sagging between the support portions. Further, ink droplets ejected from the recording head do not adhere to the third support portion covered with the sheet.

  In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the “direction” is represented by a straight line having opposite directions such as + and −, for example. For example, it is represented by an arrow having one arrow head such as + or-.

  (2) The control means positions the third support portion at the first position, conveys the sheet to a position where the third support portion can be covered, and then places the recording head on the leading end side of the sheet. Ink droplets are selectively ejected from the sheet, and the sheet is conveyed to a position where the third support part can be covered when it is positioned at the second position, and then the third support part is moved to the second position. The protrusion is selectively ejected from the recording head to the sheet, and the trailing edge of the sheet or the protrusion area where the ink droplet protrudes from the edge of the sheet and lands on the platen is positioned at the first position. Before the third sheet is conveyed to a position where it passes over the third support part and to the position where the trailing edge of the sheet passes over the third support part where the second position is located. Move the support to the first position It may be one which ink droplets selectively ejected from the recording head at the rear end of the sheet by.

  When the leading edge of the sheet supported by the first support part enters the recordable area, or until the leading edge of the sheet enters the recordable area, the third support part is positioned at the first position. Then, after the sheet is conveyed to a position where the third support portion can be covered, ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the leading end side of the sheet. Since the sheet is supported by the third support part positioned at the first position, the sheet is prevented from sagging between the first support part and the second support part. Further, ink droplets ejected from the recording head do not adhere to the third support portion covered with the sheet.

  When the sheet is transported to a position where the third support portion can be covered with the second support position, the third support portion is positioned to the second position, and ink droplets are selectively applied to the sheet from the recording head. Discharged. Since the sheet is supported by the third support portion positioned at the second position, the sheet is prevented from sagging between the first support portion and the second support portion. Further, ink droplets ejected from the recording head do not adhere to the third support portion covered with the sheet.

  The trailing edge of the sheet or the ink droplets that protrude from the edge of the sheet and land on the platen is conveyed to a position where it passes over the third support when the protruding area is positioned at the first position, and the trailing edge is at the second position. The third support portion is positioned at the first position before being transported to the position passing over the third support portion positioned at the position, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet. The Since the trailing edge or the protruding area of the sheet passes over the third support portion when it is positioned at the first position, even if the ink droplet is ejected from the recording head to the trailing edge of the sheet, the ink droplet is not It does not adhere to the third support part.

  (3) The control means positions the third support portion at the second position, conveys the sheet to the recordable area on the platen, and drops ink droplets from the recording head to the leading end side of the sheet. Are selectively ejected until the sheet passes over the third support when the leading edge is positioned at the first position, and the leading edge of the sheet or ink droplets protrudes from the edge of the sheet. Before the projecting area landed on the platen is transported to the position where it reaches the third support portion positioned at the second position, the third support portion is moved to the first position and moved to the sheet. Before the ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head and the sheet is transported to a position where the trailing edge passes over the third support portion positioned at the first position, the third support portion is moved. Second above To the rear end side of the sheet to selectively eject ink droplets from the recording head, and the rear end of the sheet or the protruding region where the ink droplets protrude from the end of the sheet and land on the platen Before the sheet is conveyed to a position where it passes through the third support part when it is positioned at the first position, and before the sheet is conveyed to a position where the rear end of the sheet passes through the third support part positioned at the second position. The third support portion may be moved to the first position so that ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet.

  When the leading edge of the sheet supported by the first support part enters the recordable area, or until the leading edge of the sheet enters the recordable area, the third support part is positioned at the second position. Then, ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the leading end side of the sheet. The third support portion in which the protrusion region where the ink droplet protrudes from the front end of the sheet and lands on the platen until the front end of the sheet reaches the third support portion positioned at the second position is positioned at the second position. Even if ink droplets are ejected from the recording head to the leading end side of the sheet until reaching the top, the ink droplets do not adhere to the third support portion.

  Before the sheet is transported to the position where it reaches the third support portion positioned at the second position, the third support portion is positioned at the first position, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head onto the sheet. Is done. Since the sheet is supported by the third support part positioned at the first position, the sheet is prevented from sagging between the first support part and the second support part. Further, even if ink droplets are ejected from all ejection ports of the recording head, the ink droplets do not adhere to the third support portion covered with the sheet.

  Before the sheet is conveyed to a position passing over the third support portion positioned at the first position, the third support portion is positioned at the second position, and ink droplets from the recording head are formed on the rear end side of the sheet. It is discharged selectively. Since the sheet is supported by the third support portion positioned at the second position, the sheet is prevented from sagging between the first support portion and the second support portion. Further, even if ink droplets are ejected from all ejection ports of the recording head, the ink droplets do not adhere to the third support portion covered with the sheet.

  The sheet is conveyed to a position where it passes over the third support portion when the trailing edge or the protruding region is positioned at the first position, and is conveyed to a position where the trailing edge passes through the third support portion positioned at the second position. Before the recording, the third support portion is positioned at the first position, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet. Since the trailing edge of the sheet or the third support portion when the protruding area is located at the first position passes through the recording head, even if an ink droplet is ejected from the recording head to the trailing edge of the sheet, the ink droplet Does not adhere to the third support portion.

  (4) a first distance along the transport direction from the first support portion to the first position, a second distance along the transport direction from the first position to the second position, and the first The third distance along the transport direction from the second position to the second support portion may be substantially equal.

  The first distance, the second distance, and the third distance are substantially equal in the sense that the first position and the second position are at a position that equally divides the first support portion and the second support portion in the transport direction. is there. Accordingly, the sheet can be supported by the third support portion at a position where the sheet is most likely to sag. In particular, the arrangement is effective in a mode in which the third support portion is moved only in two positions, the first position and the second position.

  (5) The plurality of third support portions may be arranged in a first direction intersecting the transport direction.

  As a result, the sheet can be supported at a plurality of locations in the width direction (first direction) of the sheet, so that the sheet is supported so that the gap between the recording head and the sheet is equal to the entire surface of the sheet. Image recording is realized.

  (6) The third support portion may protrude from the upper surface toward the recording head through a slit formed on the upper surface of the platen.

  (7) According to the present invention, the first support portion and the second support portion that protrude from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head and are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction in which the sheet is transported from the recordable region by the recording head. And a third support that protrudes from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head and is movable to at least a first position on the upstream side and a second position on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction in the recordable area. In the ink jet recording apparatus, the third support portion is positioned at the first position, the sheet is conveyed to a position where the third support portion can be covered, and then the leading end side of the sheet. A first step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head, and after transporting the sheet to a position where the third support portion can be covered when positioned at the second position. A second step of moving the third support portion to the second position to selectively eject ink droplets from the recording head onto the sheet; and a trailing edge or ink droplet of the sheet protruding from the sheet edge. The third region in which the protruding region landed on the platen is conveyed to a position where it passes over the third support portion when it is positioned at the first position, and the rear end of the sheet is positioned at the second position. A third step of selectively discharging ink droplets from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet by moving the third support portion to the first position before transporting to a position passing over the support portion; , May be regarded as a borderless recording method.

  (8) In the present invention, the first support portion and the second support portion that protrude from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head and are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction in which the sheet is transported from the recordable region by the recording head. And a third support that protrudes from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head and is movable to at least a first position on the upstream side and a second position on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction in the recordable area. The third support portion is positioned at the second position, the sheet is conveyed to the recordable area on the platen, and the recording is performed on the leading end side of the sheet. A first step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the head, and conveyance to the position where the leading edge of the sheet passes over the third support portion when positioned at the first position. Before the leading edge of the sheet or the ink droplet protrudes from the edge of the sheet and landed on the platen before being conveyed to the position where the protruding area reaches the third support portion positioned at the second position. A second step of moving the third support portion to the first position to selectively eject ink droplets onto the sheet from the recording head; and the sheet having the rear end positioned at the first position. A third step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet by moving the third support portion to the second position before transporting to a position passing over the three support portions. And the rear end of the sheet or the protruding region is conveyed to a position that passes over the third support portion when positioned at the first position, and the rear end of the sheet is positioned at the second position. Third above A fourth step of selectively discharging ink droplets from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet by moving the third support portion to the first position before transporting to a position passing over the support portion; , May be regarded as a borderless recording method.

  According to the present invention, the third support portion is movable to at least a first position on the upstream side and a second position on the downstream side with respect to the conveyance direction in the recordable area, and the leading edge position of the sheet or Since the third support portion is positioned at the first position or the second position in correspondence with the rear end position and borderless recording is performed on the sheet, an area for retracting the third support portion outside the recordable area is provided. There is no need to provide it. As a result, the range of movement in order to avoid the ink droplets from adhering to the third support portion is shortened in the transport direction, so that the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost. Moreover, since the sheet is supported by the third support part when the sheet is in a position where the third support part positioned at the first position or the second position can be covered, the sheet is supported by the first support part and the second support part. Therefore, the sheet is prevented from being soiled during borderless recording.

  Further, when the leading edge or the trailing edge of the sheet is near the first position or the second position, the third support unit is moved to the first position or the second position on the side where the leading edge or the trailing edge of the sheet does not exist. Even when ink droplets are ejected from the recording head to the leading edge side or the trailing edge side of the sheet, the ink droplets do not adhere to the third support portion. Further, since the marginless recording can be performed immediately when the leading edge or the trailing edge of the sheet enters the recordable area, the speed of image recording can be increased.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In addition, this embodiment is only an example of this invention and can be suitably changed in the range which does not change the summary of this invention.

[Explanation of drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a multifunction machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the recordable area 103 in the recording head 19. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 64 of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the platen 42. In FIG. 5, the carriage 38 is omitted. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration of the drive mechanism 48. In FIG. 7, the upper frame 49, the first trigger 83, and the second trigger 84 are omitted. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views for explaining the operation of the driving mechanism 48 by the input of the carriage 38. FIG. 10 and 11 are schematic diagrams for explaining the operation of the third support portion 54 in the marginless recording method. 12 and 13 are schematic diagrams for explaining the operation of the third support portion 54 in the marginless recording method according to the modification.

[Schematic configuration of MFP 10]
The multifunction machine 10 is a multi-function device (MFD) having a printer unit 11 and a scanner unit 12, and has a print function, a scan function, a copy function, and a facsimile function. The printer unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10 corresponds to the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. Accordingly, functions other than the print function in the multifunction device 10 are arbitrary, and the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention may be implemented as a single-function printer in which the scanner unit 12 is omitted, for example.

  The printer unit 11 of the multifunction machine 10 can be connected mainly to an external information device such as a computer or a digital camera. Based on recording data including image data and document data transmitted from an external information device, the printer unit 11 records an image or document on a recording sheet as a recording medium. The multi-function device 10 can be loaded with various storage media such as a card-type memory. The printer unit 11 can record an image on a recording sheet based on the image data stored in the storage medium.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the outer shape of the multifunction machine 10 is a wide, thin, substantially rectangular parallelepiped whose width and depth are larger than the height. The lower part of the multifunction machine 10 is a printer unit 11. The multifunction machine 10 has an opening 13 on the front side. Inside the opening 13, a paper feed tray 20 and a paper discharge tray 21 are provided in two upper and lower stages. A plurality of recording sheets are held in the sheet feeding tray 20. At the time of image recording, the recording paper held in the paper feed tray 20 is fed into the printer unit 11 to record a desired image, and the recording paper after image recording is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21.

  The upper part of the multifunction machine 10 is a scanner unit 12. Although the scanner unit 12 is configured as a so-called flatbed scanner, the configuration of the scanner unit 12 is not directly related to the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  An operation panel 15 is provided on the front upper portion of the multifunction machine 10. The operation panel 15 is a device for operating the printer unit 11 and the scanner unit 12 and includes various operation buttons and a liquid crystal display unit. The multifunction machine 10 operates based on an operation instruction from the operation panel 15. When the multifunction device 10 is connected to an external information device, the multifunction device 10 also operates based on an instruction transmitted from the external information device via a printer driver or a scanner driver. A slot portion 16 is provided on the front surface of the multifunction machine 10. A card-type memory card is inserted into the slot portion 16 so that data can be read and written.

[Schematic Configuration of Printer Unit 11]
Hereinafter, a schematic configuration of the printer unit 11 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a paper feed tray 20 is disposed on the bottom side of the multifunction machine 10. The paper feed tray 20 can hold recording paper of a predetermined size or less, such as A4 size. Of course, if a slide tray is provided in the paper feed tray 20 so that the tray surface can be enlarged, a recording paper (eg, legal size) larger than a predetermined size (eg, A4 size) of recording paper can be held in the paper feed tray 20. it can.

  A separation plate 22 is provided on the back side of the paper feed tray 20. The upper end of the separation plate 22 is tilted toward the back side of the printer unit 11 (the right side in FIG. 2). Even if the recording paper fed from the paper feeding tray 20 by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 25 described later is double fed, these recording papers are separated by the separation plate 22 and the separated uppermost position is separated. Only the recording paper is guided upward.

  The paper discharge tray 21 is disposed above the paper feed tray 20. The paper discharge tray 21 holds recording paper after image recording in a stacked state. The recording paper can be conveyed from the paper feed tray 20 to the paper discharge tray 21 through a paper conveyance path 23 described later. Image recording is performed by the image recording unit 24 in the process of transporting the recording paper.

  The paper feed roller 25 is provided on the upper side of the paper feed tray 20. The paper feed roller 25 feeds the recording paper loaded on the paper feed tray 20 to the paper transport path 23. The paper feed roller 25 is supported at the tip of the arm 26. The paper feed roller 25 is driven and rotated by a LF motor 71 (see FIG. 4) as a drive source via a drive transmission mechanism not shown in the figure. For example, a plurality of gears are engaged with each other, and the rotation of each gear is sequentially transmitted to transmit the drive of the LF motor 71 to the sheet feeding roller 25.

  The base end portion of the arm 26 is supported by the base shaft 28, and the arm 26 can rotate about the base shaft 28. By the rotation of the arm 26, the paper feed roller 25 moves up and down so as to be able to contact and separate from the paper feed tray 20. The arm 26 is elastically biased downward by its own weight or biased by a spring or the like. For this reason, the arm 26 normally rotates toward the paper feed tray 20 and is pushed upward by the paper feed tray 20 when the paper feed tray 20 is inserted and removed. When the arm 26 is rotated downward by elastic bias, the paper feed roller 25 is pressed against the recording paper on the paper feed tray 20. In this state, when the paper feeding roller 25 is rotated, the uppermost recording paper is sent out to the separation plate 22 by the frictional force between the roller surface of the paper feeding roller 25 and the recording paper. The leading edge of the recording sheet comes into contact with the separation plate 22 and is guided upward, and is fed to the sheet conveying path 23.

  The sheet conveyance path 23 is formed as a so-called U-turn path extending upward from the upper side of the separation plate 22 in the sheet feeding tray 20 to the front side of the apparatus. Although not shown in the drawing, the sheet conveyance path 23 is partitioned and formed by an outer guide surface and an inner guide surface except for a portion where the image recording unit 24 and the like are disposed. These guide surfaces are fixed to the housing of the printer unit 11 and the like.

[Image recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image recording unit 24 is disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction 101 from the curved portion where the paper transport path 23 makes a U-turn upward. The image recording unit 24 includes a carriage 38 and an ink jet recording head 39. The recording head 39 is mounted on the carriage 38. The carriage 38 reciprocates in a direction (arrow 102 in FIG. 3, hereinafter also referred to as “reciprocating direction 102”) orthogonal to the recording sheet conveyance direction 101. Although not shown in each figure, an ink cartridge is arranged for each color ink inside the multifunction machine 10 independently of the recording head 39. Cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color inks are supplied from the ink cartridges to the recording head 39 through the ink tubes.

  In the present embodiment, the recording paper is described as being conveyed only in the conveyance direction 101. However, in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the sheet is normally conveyed (conveyance direction 101) according to various recording controls. Needless to say, it may be transported in the reverse transport (direction opposite to the transport direction 101).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 39 has a plurality of nozzles 40 on its lower surface. The nozzles 40 are arranged in one row along the recording sheet conveyance direction 101 corresponding to the respective color inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. As shown in FIG. 3, each nozzle 40 has a nozzle for discharging cyan ink indicated by reference numeral 40C, a nozzle for discharging magenta ink indicated by reference numeral 40M, and a nozzle for discharging yellow ink. Is denoted by reference numeral 40Y, and a nozzle for ejecting black ink is denoted by reference numeral 40Bk. In the present specification, the nozzles 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40Bk corresponding to the respective colors are collectively referred to simply as the nozzle 40. The opening end of the nozzle 40 opened on the lower surface of the recording head 39 corresponds to the ejection port in the present invention. Further, on the lower surface of the recording head 39, a rectangular area (area surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) including all the nozzles 40 each having the conveyance direction 101 and the reciprocating direction 102 as sides is a recordable area 103. Called.

  Although not shown in each drawing, ink droplets of each color ink are ejected from each nozzle 40 by the vibration of the piezoelectric element provided in each nozzle 40. While the carriage 38 is reciprocated, each color ink is selectively ejected from the recording head 39 as minute ink droplets. As a result, an image is recorded on the recording paper conveyed on the platen 42. Note that the pitch and number of each nozzle along the conveyance direction 101 are appropriately set according to the resolution of the recorded image. The number of nozzle rows corresponding to each color is increased or decreased according to the number of types of color ink.

  Although not shown in each figure, guide members such as a guide rail and a guide shaft extending in the reciprocating direction 102 are provided corresponding to the arrangement of the carriage 38. The carriage 38 is supported by the guide member and is slidable in the reciprocating direction 102. The carriage 38 is driven and transmitted from a CR motor 73 (see FIG. 4) via a drive transmission mechanism such as a belt driving mechanism. The belt drive mechanism has a configuration in which, for example, an endless annular belt is bridged between a pair of pulleys with the reciprocating direction 102 as a long direction, and the belt rotates around when the pulley is rotated by a CR motor 73. By connecting the carriage to the belt, the circumferential motion of the belt is transmitted to the carriage, and the carriage 38 can reciprocate in the reciprocating direction 102.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a platen 42 is disposed below the image recording unit 24 so as to face the recording head 39. The platen 42 is disposed so as to occupy the central portion through which the recording paper passes in the reciprocating range of the carriage 38. The width of the platen 42 (the length in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) is set sufficiently larger than the maximum width of the recording paper that can be conveyed by the printer unit 11 (the length in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2). ing. Therefore, both ends in the width direction of the recording sheet to be conveyed always pass over the platen 42. Although described later in detail, the platen 42 is provided with a movable portion 47 (see FIG. 2). The movable portion 47 is slidable along the recording sheet conveyance direction 101.

[Transport mechanism]
The transport mechanism for transporting the recording paper is composed mainly of the transport roller 60, the pinch roller 61, the paper discharge roller 62, and the spur roller 63 in addition to the paper feed roller 25 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of conveyance rollers 60 and a pinch roller 61 are provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction 101 from the image recording unit 24. The pinch roller 61 is provided so as to be movable in a direction in which the pinch roller 61 is in contact with or separated from the conveyance roller 60. The pinch roller 61 is urged so as to be in pressure contact with the conveying roller 60 by a coil spring. When the recording paper enters between the conveying roller 60 and the pinch roller 61, the pinch roller 61 is retracted against the biasing force of the coil spring by the thickness of the recording paper, and the recording paper is pressed against the conveying roller 60. Thereby, the rotational force of the conveyance roller 60 is reliably transmitted to the recording paper. The conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 pinch the recording sheet conveyed through the sheet conveyance path 23 and convey it onto the platen 42.

  A pair of paper discharge rollers 62 and spur rollers 63 are provided downstream of the image recording unit 24 in the conveying direction 101. The paper discharge roller 62 and the spur roller 63 sandwich the recorded recording paper and convey it to the paper discharge tray 21. The spur roller 63 is provided so as to be movable in a direction in which the spur roller 63 is in contact with or separated from the paper discharge roller 62. The spur roller 63 is urged so as to be in pressure contact with the paper discharge roller 62 by a coil spring. When the recording paper enters between the paper discharge roller 62 and the spur roller 63, the spur roller 63 retreats against the urging force of the coil spring by the thickness of the recording paper, and presses the recording paper against the paper discharge roller 62. . Thereby, the rotational force of the paper discharge roller 62 is reliably transmitted to the recording paper.

  The transport roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62 are rotated in synchronization with the driving force transmitted from the LF motor 71. The conveyance roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62 are rotated or stopped according to recording control, so-called intermittent driving, whereby the recording paper is intermittently conveyed with a predetermined line feed width. Then, when the recording paper is stopped, ink is selectively ejected from the recording head 39 based on the image data while the carriage 38 reciprocates, thereby recording an image on the recording paper.

  A registration sensor 59 is disposed on the upstream side of the transport direction 101 from the transport roller 60 in the paper transport path 23. Although not shown in the figure, the registration sensor 59 is a so-called mechanical sensor having a detector and an optical sensor. The detection sensor of the registration sensor 59 protrudes into the paper transport path 23 and appears and disappears with respect to the paper transport path 23 by rotation. The detector is elastically biased by a spring material (not shown) and protrudes to the paper transport path 23, and rotates against the elastic bias so as to be retracted from the paper transport path 23 when one recording sheet comes into contact. Is done. The registration sensor 59 detects such rotation of the detector with an optical sensor and outputs it as an electrical signal. Based on the electrical signal output by the registration sensor 59, it is determined that the leading edge or the trailing edge of the recording paper has passed the position of the detector.

[Control unit 64]
The control unit 64 controls the overall operation of the multifunction machine 10 including not only the printer unit 11 but also the scanner unit 12. Note that the configuration related to the control of the scanner unit 12 is not the main configuration of the present invention, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 64 mainly includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 65, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 66, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 67, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM) 68. It is configured as a microcomputer. The control unit 64 is connected to an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 70 via a bus 69.

  The ROM 66 stores a program for controlling various operations of the multifunction machine 10 and the like. The RAM 67 is used as a storage area or a work area for temporarily recording various data used when the CPU 65 executes the program. The EEPROM 68 stores settings and flags that should be retained even after the power is turned off.

  The ASIC 70 generates a PWM signal that energizes the LF motor 71 in accordance with a command from the CPU 65. This signal is applied to the drive circuit 72 of the LF motor 71, and the drive signal is energized to the LF motor 71 via the drive circuit 72. In this way, rotation control of the LF motor 71 is performed. The LF motor 71 is a drive source for the transport roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62, and is also a drive source for the paper feed roller 25.

  The drive circuit 72 drives the LF motor 71 at a desired rotation. The drive circuit 72 receives an output signal from the ASIC 70 and generates an electric signal for rotating the LF motor 71. In response to this electrical signal, the LF motor 71 rotates. The rotation of the LF motor 71 is transmitted to the paper feed roller 25, the transport roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 62.

  The ASIC 70 generates a PWM signal for energizing the CR motor 73 in accordance with a command from the CPU 65. This signal is applied to the drive circuit 74 of the CR motor 73, and the drive signal is energized to the CR motor 73 via the drive circuit 74. In this way, rotation control of the CR motor 73 is performed.

  The drive circuit 74 drives the CR motor 73 with a desired rotation. The drive circuit 74 receives an output signal from the ASIC 70 and generates an electrical signal for rotating the CR motor 73. Upon receipt of this electric signal, the CR motor 73 rotates. The rotational force of the CR motor 73 is transmitted to the carriage 38 via the belt drive mechanism, and thereby the carriage 38 is reciprocated. In this way, the reciprocation of the carriage 38 is controlled by the control unit 64. The carriage 38 is slid by moving the first trigger 83 or the second trigger 84 when the carriage 38 reciprocates. This configuration will be described later.

  The drive circuit 75 drives the recording head 39 at a predetermined timing. Based on the drive control procedure output from the CPU 65, the ASIC 70 generates an output signal. Based on this output signal, the drive circuit 75 controls the drive of the recording head 39. The drive circuit 75 is mounted on the head control board. A signal output from the drive circuit 75 is transmitted from the main board constituting the control unit 64 to the head control board via a power transmission member such as a flat cable. Thereby, the recording head 39 selectively ejects each color ink onto the recording paper at a predetermined timing.

  The rotation amount of the transport roller 60 is determined based on the detection signal of the rotary encoder 76. Although not shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the rotary encoder 76 detects an optical pattern of an encoder disk that is provided coaxially with the transport roller 60 and rotates, and detects an electrical signal corresponding to the optical pattern by the encoder. Output as a quantity. The control unit 64 grasps the position of the leading or trailing edge of the recording sheet based on the detection signal of the registration sensor 59 and the encoder amount detected by the rotary encoder 76. When the leading edge of the recording sheet reaches a predetermined position of the platen 42, the control unit 64 controls the rotation of the LF motor 71 so as to intermittently convey the recording sheet for each predetermined line feed width. The line feed width is set based on the resolution input as the image recording condition.

  The position of the carriage 38 is determined based on the detection signal of the linear encoder 77. Although not shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the linear encoder 77 detects the optical pattern of the encoder strip provided along the guide member that guides the carriage 38 with an optical sensor mounted on the carriage 38, and An electrical signal corresponding to the optical pattern is output as an encoder amount. The carriage 38 is moved to one end of the reciprocating range when the power of the multifunction machine 10 is turned on, and the detection position by the linear encoder 77 is initialized. When the carriage 38 moves from the initial position along the guide member, an optical sensor provided on the carriage 38 detects an optical pattern of the encoder strip and outputs a plurality of pulse signals having different phases. The controller 64 grasps the moving direction and speed of the carriage 38 based on these pulse signals. The control unit 64 controls the rotation of the CR motor 73 to control the reciprocation of the carriage 38 based on the moving direction and speed.

  Data is transmitted / received to / from the scanner unit 12, the operation panel 15 for instructing operation of the multifunction device 10, the slot unit 16 into which various small memory cards are inserted, and an external information device such as a personal computer via a parallel cable or a USB cable. A parallel interface 78 and a USB interface 79 are connected to the ASIC 70. Further, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 80 and a modem (MODEM) 81 for realizing the facsimile function are also connected to the ASIC 70.

[Platen 42]
As shown in FIG. 5, the platen 42 has a generally flat plate shape, and the upper surface 43 thereof is arranged to face the nozzles 40 of the recording head 39. The upper surface 43 of the platen 42 is substantially rectangular with the longitudinal direction of the reciprocating direction 102 of the carriage 38.

  The platen 42 includes a frame 44 having an upper surface 43, a first support portion 45 and a second support portion 46 provided on the upper surface 43 of the frame 44, a movable portion 47 provided in the frame 44, and a movable portion 47. The drive mechanism 48 (see FIG. 7) that slides is the main component.

  The frame 44 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin or a steel plate, and configures the outer shape of the platen 42. The frame 44 has a substantially hollow rectangular parallelepiped shape, and includes an upper frame 49 including an upper surface 43 and a lower frame 50. Before the upper frame 49 and the lower frame 50 are assembled, a movable portion 47 and a drive mechanism 48 described later are arranged in the frame 44. Although not shown in each figure, the frame 44 is fixed to the frame of the printer unit 11 via a bracket or the like.

  A first support portion 45 and a second support portion 46 are provided on the upper surface 43 of the frame 44. A plurality of first support portions 45 are provided in a row at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction (reciprocating direction 102) on the upstream side of the transport direction 101 on the upper surface 43. Each first support portion 45 is a thin plate-shaped rib, and protrudes upward on the upper surface 43 with the conveying direction 101 as the longitudinal direction. In addition, the rib shape of each first support portion 45 has a mountain shape in which an inclined surface is formed along the conveyance direction 101 and protrudes upward.

  The second support portion 46 extends along the longitudinal direction (reciprocating direction 102) of the frame 44 on the downstream side of the transport direction 101 on the upper surface 43. The second support portion 46 has a mountain shape in cross section along the transport direction 101 and protrudes upward toward the recording head 39.

  Each of the first support portions 45 and the second support portions 46 are separated along the transport direction 101. In the present embodiment, a part of the upper surface 43 that is recognized as between the first support part 45 and the second support part 46 is referred to as a groove 51. The groove 51 extends on the upper surface 43 in the longitudinal direction of the platen 42 (reciprocating direction 102). The length of the groove 51 along the conveyance direction 101 (the distance 104 between each first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46) is the length 105 (along the conveyance direction 101 in the recordable area 103 of the recording head 39. Longer). In other words, the first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46 are on the upper surface 43 of the platen 42 and can be recorded in a recordable area 109 (two in FIG. 5) corresponding to the recordable area 103 of the recording head 39 that reciprocates with the carriage 38. The region surrounded by the dotted line), that is, the region where the ink droplets can land from each nozzle 40 is arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction 101, respectively.

  A plurality of slits 52 extending along the conveyance direction 101 are provided on the upper surface 43 of the frame 44. The slits 52 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the platen 42 (reciprocating direction 102). Most of the slits 52 extend from between the adjacent first support portions 45 to the downstream side in the transport direction 101 from the second support portion 46. Therefore, as a result, the second support portion 46 is divided by the plurality of slits 52 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the platen 42 (reciprocating direction 102). Through each slit 52, a third support portion 54 of the movable portion 47 described later protrudes upward from the upper surface 43 toward the recording head 39. The width of each slit 52 in the longitudinal direction (reciprocating direction 102) of the frame 44 is sufficient if the third support portion 54 of the movable portion 47 can pass through. Therefore, in the platen 42 of the present embodiment, the second support portion 46 is divided by the plurality of slits 52, but the configuration of the platen when there is no movable portion 47, that is, a plurality of second support portions 46. Compared to the configuration of the platen that is not divided by the slit 52, there is no change in the function of supporting the recording paper.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the movable portion 47 includes a base 53 that is disposed in the frame 44 and is movable in the conveying direction 101, and a plurality of third support portions 54 provided on the base 53. And have. In FIG. 2, a part of the frame 44 is omitted. The third support portion 54 is a thin flat rib, and protrudes upward from the base 53 with the short direction of the base 53 (the direction along the conveying direction 101) as the longitudinal direction. The rib shape of each third support portion 54 has an angled shape in which the upper portion protrudes upward with an inclined surface formed along the conveyance direction 101. A plurality of such third support portions 54 are arranged in a row at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the base 53 (reciprocating direction 102). The distance between the third support portions 54 is equal to the distance between the slits 52 formed in the upper frame 49. Each third support portion 54 protrudes from the lower side of the upper frame 49 to the upper side of the upper surface 43 through the slit 52. That is, the movable portion 47 is disposed on the side opposite to the upper surface 43 with respect to the upper frame 49, and the third support portions 54 protrude toward the recording head 39. A reciprocating direction 102 in which a plurality of third support portions 54 are arranged corresponds to the first direction in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lower frame 50 is provided with a pair of support guides 55 and 56 along the conveyance direction 101. Each of the support guides 55 and 56 has a trapezoidal shape extending in the transport direction 101 as a longitudinal direction, and the upper surfaces of the support guides 55 and 56 are included in the same horizontal plane. The lengths of the support guides 55 and 56 along the conveyance direction 101 are set so as to correspond to the slide range of the movable portion 47 and include the slide range. The base 53 of the movable portion 47 is supported by the pair of support guides 55 and 56, and can be moved along the transport direction 101 while being guided by the upper surfaces of the support guides 55 and 56.

  The drive mechanism 48 is for moving the movable portion 47 along the transport direction 101. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the drive mechanism 48 includes a first trigger 83, a second trigger 84, a first rack member 85, transmission gears 86 and 87, and second rack members 88 and 89 as main components. To do.

  The first trigger 83 is provided on one end side (left side in FIG. 6) in the reciprocating direction 102 in the frame 44. The first trigger 83 is provided with a spur gear 91 at one end of the lever 90. In the upper frame 49, a long hole 57 extending in the reciprocating direction 102 is formed in the upper surface 43, and a part of the lever 90 protrudes upward from the upper surface 43 through the long hole 57. The first trigger 83 is provided to be rotatable like a pendulum in the reciprocating direction 102 in the frame 44. Therefore, the lever 90 can rotate in the extending direction of the long hole 57, that is, in the reciprocating direction 102. As the lever 90 rotates, the spur gear 91 in the frame 44 is rotated.

  The second trigger 84 is provided on the other end side (right side in FIG. 6) of the reciprocating direction 102 in the frame 44. The second trigger 84 has three nodes (links) 92, 93, 94 connected in a crank shape. A hole 58 is formed in the upper frame 49 from the upper surface 43 to the side surface, and a part of the second trigger 84 protrudes outside the frame 44 through the hole 58. The node 92 has a shaft 95 along the conveyance direction 101, and the shaft 95 is rotatably supported by the upper frame 49. Nodes 93 and 94 are connected to both ends of the node 92, respectively. The node 93 moves up and down in the frame 44 as the node 92 rotates. The node 94 moves up and down with the rotation of the node 92 outside the frame 44. The node 94 is raised and lowered with respect to the upper surface 43 of the frame 44 by the rotation position of the node 92. Although not shown in each figure, the node 92 is moved in a direction in which the node 94 is inserted into the upper surface 43 of the frame 44 by an urging member such as a torsion coil spring, that is, the node 94 moves downward. It is elastically biased.

  The first rack member 85 is a long member disposed in the frame 44 with the reciprocating direction 102 as the longitudinal direction. The first rack member 85 is provided with a first rack gear 96 on a part of the upper surface on one end side (left side in FIG. 7) where the first trigger 83 is disposed, and is provided on one side surface on the upstream side with respect to the transport direction 101. A second rack gear 97 and a third rack gear 98 are respectively provided in the section. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, gear teeth are omitted using a two-dot chain line.

  In the vicinity of the center of the first rack member 85, a long hole 99 is formed that extends in the vertical direction and extends in the reciprocating direction 102. The fixed hook 30 provided in the lower frame 50 is inserted into the long hole 99. The fixing hook 30 is a member that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the lower frame 50 and bends into a bowl shape toward one end. A fixing hook 100 is provided on the other end side (the right side in FIG. 7) with respect to the long hole 99. The fixed hook 100 is a member that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the first rack member 85 and bends into a bowl shape toward the other end. A coil spring 110 as a tension spring is installed on the fixed hook 30 and the fixed hook 100.

  A cam 111 is provided on the other end of the first rack member 85 (on the right side in FIG. 7). The cam 111 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the first rack member 85 and forms a step with respect to the upper surface.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the lower frame 50 is provided with support guides 31, 32, and 37 that protrude upward from the bottom surface. Each support guide 31, 32, 37 has a trapezoidal shape whose upper surface is included in the same horizontal plane. The first rack member 85 described above is supported by the pair of support guides 31, 32, 37, and can be moved in the horizontal direction while being guided by the upper surfaces of the support guides 31, 32, 37. The horizontal movement of the first rack member 85 is guided in the long direction, that is, the reciprocating direction 102 by the engagement between the long hole 99 and the fixed hook 30 described above. Therefore, the first rack member 85 can move horizontally in the reciprocating direction 102. Holes 33 and 34 are formed on the side surface of the lower frame 50 in order to avoid contact with the first rack member 85 moved in the reciprocating direction 102. As the first rack member 85 moves in the reciprocating direction 102, the end portion thereof can protrude from the holes 33 and 34 to the outside of the frame 44.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the frame 44, transmission gears 86 and 87 are disposed at positions corresponding to the second rack gear 97 and the third rack gear 98 of the first rack member 85 described above, respectively. The transmission gears 86 and 87 are rotatably supported by shafts 35 and 36 that extend vertically upward from the bottom surface of the lower frame 50. The transmission gears 86 and 87 are meshed with the second rack gear 97 or the third rack gear 98, respectively.

  The second rack members 88 and 89 are long members disposed in the frame 44 with the direction along the transport direction 101 as the longitudinal direction. Each of the second rack members 88 and 89 is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the transmission gears 86 and 87 described above. The upstream ends of the transport directions 101 of the second rack members 88 and 89 are connected to the base 53 of the movable portion 47. Each of the second rack members 88 and 89 is provided with rack gears 112 and 113 on a part of a side surface facing the transmission gears 86 and 87, respectively. The rack gears 112 and 113 are engaged with the transmission gears 86 and 87, respectively.

  The movable portion 47 is moved to the first position P1 and the second position P2 by the drive mechanism 48 configured as described above. As shown in FIG. 10, the first position P <b> 1 is in the recordable area 109 in the platen 42, and is a third of the distance 104 between the first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46 with respect to the transport direction 101. This is a position advanced by 1 from the first support portion 45 in the transport direction 101. That is, the distance 106 = 1/3 × the distance 104 is established for the distance 106 along the conveyance direction 101 from the first support portion 45 to the first position P1.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the second position P <b> 2 is within the recordable area 109 in the platen 42, and is a third of the distance 104 between the first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46 with respect to the transport direction 101. This is a position advanced by 2 from the first support portion 45 in the transport direction 101. That is, for the distance 107 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 and the distance 108 from the second position P2 to the second support portion 46, the distance 107 = 1/3 × distance 104 and the distance 108 = 1/3 ×. A distance 104 is established. Then, distance 104 = distance 106 + distance 107 + distance 108 is established. The distance 106 corresponds to the first distance in the present invention, the distance 107 corresponds to the second distance in the present invention, and the distance 108 corresponds to the third distance in the present invention.

  Input to the drive mechanism 48 is made by the carriage 38. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the lever 90 of the first trigger 83 is positioned at the other end (the right side in FIG. 6) of the long hole 57, the spur gear 91 of the first trigger 83 and the first gear The first rack member 85 engaged with the rack gear 96 is positioned on one end side (left side in FIG. 6) with respect to the reciprocating direction 102. At the slide position of the first rack member 85, the node 93 of the second trigger 84 is in contact with the upper surface of the cam 110. Since the node 93 is not lowered by the contact with the cam 110, the node 92 is rotated against the elastic biasing force and the node 94 is lowered.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the second rack is connected via the second rack gear 97 and the third rack gear 98, the transmission gears 86 and 87, and the rack gears 112 and 113 corresponding to the slide position of the first rack member 85 described above. The members 88 and 89 are slid downstream in the transport direction 101. Corresponding to the slide positions of the second rack members 88 and 89, the third support portion 54 of the movable portion 47 is positioned at the first position P1.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the carriage 38 is slid to come into contact with the lever 90 of the first trigger 83 and the lever 90 is rotated to one end (the left side in FIG. 8) of the long hole 57, The first rack member 85 meshed by the spur gear 91 and the first rack gear 96 is moved to the other end side (the right side in FIG. 8) with respect to the reciprocating direction 102 against the pulling force of the coil spring 110. When the first rack member 85 is slid, the node 93 of the second trigger 84 is relatively moved from the cam 110 to the center side and lowered to the upper surface of the first rack member 85. As a result, the node 92 is rotated by the elastic biasing force, and the node 94 is raised. The raised node 94 has a height at which it can come into contact with the carriage 38. Further, the first rack member 85 is held at this sliding position against the pulling force of the coil spring 110 by the engagement between the node 93 of the second trigger 84 and the cam 110.

  The slide of the first rack member 85 described above is transmitted to the second rack members 88 and 89 via the second rack gear 97 and the third rack gear 98, the transmission gears 86 and 87, and the rack gears 112 and 113, so that the second rack The members 88 and 89 are slid to the upstream side in the transport direction 101. In conjunction with the sliding of the second rack members 88, 89, the third support portion 54 of the movable portion 47 is positioned at the second position P2.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the carriage 38 is slid to contact the node 94 of the second trigger 84 and the node 94 is lowered as shown in FIG. 6, the node 92 resists the elastic biasing force. The node 93 is raised by rotating. When the lower end of the node 93 rises above the upper surface of the cam 110, the first rack member 85 is slid to one end side (left side in FIG. 6) with respect to the reciprocating direction 102 by the pulling force of the coil spring 110. The slide of the first rack member 85 is transmitted to the spur gear 91 of the first trigger 84 through the first rack gear 96, and the lever 90 is rotated to the other end side (the right side in FIG. 6) of the long hole 57. The Further, the node 93 of the second trigger 84 abuts on the upper surface of the cam 110, and even when the carriage 38 is separated from the node 94, the node 92 is rotated against the elastic biasing force, and the node 94 is lowered. Retained.

  The slide of the first rack member 85 described above is transmitted to the second rack members 88 and 89 via the second rack gear 97 and the third rack gear 98, the transmission gears 86 and 87, and the rack gears 112 and 113, so that the second rack The members 88 and 89 are slid downstream in the transport direction 101. In conjunction with the slide of the second rack members 88 and 89, the third support portion 54 of the movable portion 47 is positioned at the first position P1.

[Borderless recording method]
The MFP 10 selects a mode of image recording by performing a predetermined operation on the operation panel 15 or by transmitting a predetermined command from an external information device. The image recording mode is so-called margined recording or marginless recording. Hereinafter, image recording when borderless recording is selected will be described.

The marginless recording method in the present embodiment includes at least the following three steps.
(1) After the third support portion 54 is positioned at the first position P1 and the recording paper 17 is transported to a position where the third support portion 54 can be covered, from the recording head 39 to the front end 18 side of the recording paper 17 A first step of selectively ejecting ink droplets;
(2) After transporting the recording paper 17 to a position where the third support portion 54 at the second position P2 can be covered, the third support portion 54 is moved to the second position P2 to record the recording paper 17. A second step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head 39;
(3) The recording paper 17 is conveyed to a position where it passes over the third support portion 54 when it protrudes from the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 and is landed on the platen when it is positioned at the first position P1. Before the rear end 19 is transported to a position where it passes over the third support portion 54 positioned at the second position P2, the third support portion 54 is moved to the first position P1 and the rear end 19 side of the recording paper 17 is reached. A third step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head 39;

  When an image recording start command is issued, the recording paper 17 loaded on the paper feed tray 20 is first fed to the paper transport path 23. Specifically, the control unit 64 drives the LF motor 71 and the paper feed roller 25 is rotated. The recording paper 17 fed from the paper feed tray 20 to the paper conveyance path 23 is conveyed along the paper conveyance path 23 so as to be reversed from the bottom to the top.

  In the paper transport path 23, the leading edge 18 of the recording paper 17 contacts the registration sensor 59, and the registration sensor 59 is turned on. When the recording paper 17 is further conveyed, the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 comes into contact with the conveying roller 60 and the pinch roller 61. Since the transport roller 60 is rotated in the direction opposite to the transport direction 101, the leading edge 18 of the recording paper 17 is not sandwiched between the transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 in this state, and the recording paper 17 is transported by the transport roller 60 and the pinch. The resist process is performed in contact with the roller 61. After the registration of the recording paper 17, the control unit 64 reverses the rotation of the LF motor 71 and rotates the transport roller 60 in the transport direction 101. As a result, the registration-processed recording paper is nipped between the conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61. Then, as shown in FIG. 10A, the recording paper 17 is conveyed onto the platen 42.

  In the initialization operation until the recording paper 17 is conveyed to the platen 42, the carriage 38 lowers the node 94 of the second trigger 84 to bring the third support portion 54 to the first position P1, as shown in FIG. Position it. Such an initialization operation can be performed regardless of the conveyance of the recording paper 17 described above. That is, the operation for positioning the third support portion 54 at the first position P1 is by driving the CR motor 73 and sliding the carriage 38, and the conveyance of the recording paper 17 drives the LF motor 71. This is because the transport mechanism is operated, and these operations can be performed independently.

  Subsequently, an operation corresponding to the first step in the borderless recording method according to the present invention will be described. In the first step, the control unit 64 positions the third support portion 54 at the first position P1 and transports the recording paper 17 to a position where the third support portion 54 can be covered. Ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head 39 toward the front end 18 side.

  After the registration process, the LF motor 61 is rotated forward and the transport roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 61 rotate in the transport direction 101. The recording paper 17 is nipped by the transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and transported in the transport direction 101. . When the leading edge of the recording paper 17 reaches the platen 42, the LF motor 71 is intermittently driven. Note that the third support portion 54 has already been positioned at the first position P1 by the above-described initialization operation.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, when the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 exceeds the third support portion 54 positioned at the first position P1, the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17 is moved to the first supporting portion 45. And supported by the third support portion 54. When the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 exceeds the third support portion 54 positioned at the first position P1, that is, when the recording paper 17 covers the third support portion 54, the control unit 64 conveys the recording paper 17. While intermittent, ink droplets of each color are selectively ejected from the recording head 39 that slides with the carriage 38. The ejected ink droplets land on the recording paper 17 supported by the third support portion 54. In borderless recording, ink droplets are ejected to at least the peripheral edge of the recording paper 17 or are slightly protruded from the peripheral edge of the recording paper 17 and ejected. On the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17, the recording head 39 is in the transport direction 101 from the position corresponding to the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 in the recordable area 103 in which the recording head 39 can eject ink droplets as the recording paper 17 is intermittently transported. Ink droplets are ejected only on the upstream side.

  As described above, borderless recording is performed on the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17. At this time, since the third support portion 54 is positioned at the first position P1 and covered with the recording paper 17, ink droplets do not land on the third support portion 54. Further, the recording paper 17 is maintained horizontally without drooping into the groove 51 by the waist (rigidity) of the leading end 18 side protruding from the first support portion 45 and the third support portion 54 in the conveying direction 101. To do.

  In borderless recording, ink droplets are ejected up to or around the periphery of the recording paper 17, so that a part of the ink droplets reaches the upper surface 43 of the platen 42 without landing on the recording paper 17. There are things to do. In the present invention, a region that protrudes from the periphery of the recording paper 17 and can land on the platen 42 is referred to as a protruding region. In the borderless recording on the leading edge 18 side of the recording paper 17 described above, ink droplets that have not landed on the leading edge 18 of the recording paper 17 land on the groove 51 or the base 53 but land on the third support portion 54. There is no. Further, as will be described later, since the recording paper 17 supported by the first support portion 45, the second support portion 46 and the third support portion 54 does not sag into the groove 51, the ink landed on the groove 51 The droplets do not stain the recording paper 17.

  Subsequently, an operation corresponding to the second step in the marginless recording method according to the present invention will be described. In the second step, the control unit 64 transports the recording paper 17 to a position where the third support unit 54 can be covered when the control unit 64 is positioned at the second position P2, and then moves the third support unit 54 to the second position. The ink droplet is selectively ejected from the recording head 39 onto the recording paper 17 by moving to P2.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the third support 54 can be covered when the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 on which the marginless recording is performed on the leading end 18 side is positioned at the second position P2. When transported to the position, the carriage 38 is slid until the lever 90 of the first trigger 83 is rotated. By the rotation of the lever 90, the third support portion 54 is moved to the second position P2. As a result, the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17 is supported by the third support portion 54, and is supported by the first support portion 45 on the upstream side in the transport direction 101 from the recordable area 109. By being supported by the third support portion 54, the front end 18 side that protrudes greatly from the first support portion 45 in the transport direction 101 and has landed ink droplets does not sag into the groove 51.

  In the same manner as described above, the control unit 64 performs borderless recording on the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17. In borderless recording, ink droplets are ejected up to or around the periphery of the recording paper 17, but ink droplets that do not land on the recording paper 17 are applied to the third support portion 54 covered with the recording paper 17. There is no adhesion.

  Subsequently, an operation corresponding to the third step in the marginless recording method according to the present invention will be described. In the third step, the protruding region where the control unit 64 protrudes from the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 and is landed on the platen passes over the third support unit 54 when it is positioned at the first position P1. The third support portion 54 is moved to the first position P1 before being transported to the position and transported to the position where the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 passes over the third support portion 43 positioned at the second position P2. Thus, ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head 39 toward the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17.

  Until the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17 on which borderless recording is performed passes over the third support portion 54 when the recording paper 17 is positioned at the first position P1, the recording paper 17 is positioned at the second position P2. The third support portion 54 and the second support portion 46 are supported. By being supported by the third support portion 54, the rear end 19 side that protrudes greatly from the second support portion 46 to the upstream side in the transport direction 101 and has landed ink droplets does not sag into the groove 51. Further, in the marginless recording on the rear end 19 side, even if there is an ink droplet that does not land on the recording paper 17, the ink droplet does not adhere to the third support portion 54 covered with the recording paper 17. .

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the recording paper 17 is further conveyed, the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 enters the recordable area 109, and the protruding area is located at the first position P1. The carriage 38 operates the second trigger 84 before passing over the third support portion 54 and before passing over the third support portion 54 positioned at the second position P2, and the third support portion 54 is moved to the first support portion 54. It is moved to position P1.

  Then, borderless recording on the rear end 19 side of the recording paper 17 is continued. Although the third support portion 54 is positioned at the first position P1, since the protruding area to the recording paper 17 passes through the first position P1, the upper surface 43 of the platen 42 does not land on the recording paper 17. Ink droplets heading toward the third support portion 54 do not adhere. Further, the recording paper 17 keeps the rear end 19 protruding from the second support portion 46 to the upstream side in the transport direction 101 horizontally without dropping into the groove 51 due to its waist (rigidity). Ink droplets that have not landed on the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17 land on the groove 51, but the recording paper 17 supported by the second support portion 46 does not sag into the groove 51 as described above. Therefore, the ink droplets that land on the groove 51 do not stain the recording paper 17.

  Although not described in detail in the present embodiment, the printer unit 11 can perform so-called bordered recording in which there is no image to be recorded around the recording paper. In such bordered recording, all ink droplets ejected from the recording head 39 toward the recording paper 17 land on the recording paper 17, so that the third support portion 54 is at the first position P1 or the second position P2. It may be located at any position. Therefore, while the margined recording is performed, the third support portion 54 is held at the first position P1 or the second position P2 according to the position of the leading edge 18 or the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17. Accordingly, the leading end 18 or the trailing end 19 of the recording paper 17 does not hang down between the first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46, and the distance (head gap) between the recording head 39 and the recording paper 17. Is kept constant. Further, in the margined recording, the third support portion 54 may be continuously held at either the first position P1 or the second position P2 without being moved.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
As described above, according to the borderless recording by the multifunction machine 10, the third support portion 54 is located upstream in the recordable area 109 with respect to the transport direction 101 and at the first position P <b> 1 and the downstream side. The third support portion 54 is positioned at the first position P1 or the second position P2 so as to correspond to the leading end 18 or the trailing end 19 of the recording paper 17, and the recording paper 17 has no edge. Since recording is performed, there is no need to provide an area for retracting the third support portion 54 outside the recordable area 109. As a result, the range of movement in order to avoid ink droplets from adhering to the third support portion 54 is shortened in the transport direction 101, so that the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost. Further, if the recording paper 17 is in a position where the third support portion 54 positioned at the first position P1 or the second position P2 can be covered, the recording paper 17 is supported by the third support portion 54, so that the recording paper 17 is prevented from sagging in the groove 51 between the first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46, so that the recording paper 17 is prevented from being soiled during borderless recording.

  Further, when the leading edge 18 or the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17 is in the vicinity of the first position P1 or the second position P2, the first position P1 or the second position on the side where the leading edge 18 or the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17 does not exist. By moving the third support portion 54 to the position P2, even if an ink droplet is ejected from the recording head 39 to the leading end 18 side or the trailing end 19 side of the recording paper 17, the ink droplet adheres to the third supporting portion 54. There is nothing to do.

  In the present embodiment, in the third step, the third support portion 54 moves to the first position P1 after passing over the third support portion 54 when the protruding area of the recording paper 17 is positioned at the first position P1. If the ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 39 so that the ink droplets do not protrude from the edges such as the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 during borderless recording, The third support part 54 may be moved to the first position P1 after the end 19 has passed over the third support part 54 located at the first position P1. Further, as in the present embodiment, if the upper portion of the third support portion 54 has a chevron shape in which an inclined surface is formed along the transport direction 101 and protrudes upward, at the top of the chevron shape The third support portion 54 and the recording paper 17 are in contact with each other. Therefore, even if an ink droplet adheres to an inclined surface other than the top in the upper portion of the third support portion 54, even if the third support portion 54 supports the recording paper 17 thereafter, The attached ink droplets do not stain the recording paper 17.

  In the present embodiment, in the first step, after the recording paper 17 is transported to a position where the third support portion 54 can be covered, ink droplets are selectively applied from the recording head 39 to the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17. Discharged. Accordingly, since the recording paper 17 is supported by the third support portion 54, the recording paper 17 is prevented from sagging into the groove 51 between the first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46. Further, ink droplets ejected from the recording head 39 do not adhere to the third support portion 54 covered with the recording paper 17.

  In the second step, when the recording paper 17 is transported to a position where the third support portion 54 when it is positioned at the second position P2 can be covered, the third support portion 54 is positioned at the second position P2. It is done. Accordingly, since the recording paper 17 is supported by the third support portion 54, the recording paper 17 is prevented from sagging into the groove 51 between the first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46. Further, ink droplets ejected from the recording head 39 do not adhere to the third support portion 54 covered with the recording paper 17.

  Further, in the third step, the protruding area to the recording paper 17 is conveyed to a position that passes over the third support portion 54 when it is positioned at the first position P1, and the rear end 19 is positioned at the second position P2. The third support portion 54 is positioned at the first position P1 before being transported to a position that passes over the third support portion 54, and ink droplets are selected from the recording head 39 on the rear end 19 side of the recording paper 17. Is discharged. As a result, even when ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 39 toward the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17, the ink droplets do not adhere to the third support portion 54.

  Further, the distance 106 from the first support part 45 to the first position P1, the distance 107 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, and the distance 108 from the second position P2 to the second support part 46 are approximately Since they are equivalent, the recording paper 17 can be supported by the third support portion 54 at a position where the recording paper 17 is most likely to sag. In addition, since the third support portion 54 is moved only at the two positions of the first position P1 and the second position P2, simplification of the apparatus and cost reduction are effectively realized.

  Further, since the plurality of third support portions 54 are arranged in the reciprocating direction 102, the recording sheet 17 is supported at a plurality of locations in the width direction of the recording sheet 17 (reciprocating direction 102). As a result, the gap between the recording head 39 and the recording paper 17 is equal to the entire surface of the recording paper 17, and high-precision image recording is realized.

[Modification]
Below, the modification of embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated. In this modification, the operation of the third support portion 54 in the borderless recording method of the above-described embodiment is different. Therefore, except for the operation of the third support portion 54, the same configuration as the platen 42 described above is used, and the operation of the modified example is realized. Therefore, hereinafter, only the operation of the third support portion 54 will be described in detail, and description of the detailed configuration of the platen 42 will be omitted. In each figure, members denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the above-described embodiments indicate the same members.

[Borderless recording method]
Hereinafter, borderless recording according to the modification will be described. Note that the same operation as that of the above-described embodiment is performed until the recording paper 17 is conveyed onto the platen 42 based on the image recording start command.

The marginless recording method in this modification includes at least the following four steps.
(1) The third support portion 54 is positioned at the second position P2, the recording paper 17 is conveyed to the recordable area 109 on the platen 42, and ink droplets are applied from the recording head 39 to the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17. A first step of selectively discharging.
(2) The recording paper 17 is transported to a position where it passes over the third support portion 54 when the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 is positioned at the first position P1, and the ink droplet lands on the platen 42 by protruding from the end of the recording paper 17 The third support portion 54 is moved to the first position P1 and the recording head 39 is moved to the recording head 39 before the protruding region is transported to the position where it reaches the third support portion 54 positioned at the second position P2. A second step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from
(3) Before transporting the recording paper 17 to a position where the trailing edge 19 passes over the third support portion 54 positioned at the first position P1, the third support portion 54 is moved to the second position P2. A third step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head 39 toward the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17;
(4) A third support portion that is transported to a position that passes over the third support portion 54 when the protruding area is positioned at the first position P1 and the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 is positioned at the second position P2. The fourth step of moving the third support portion 54 to the first position P1 and selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head 39 to the rear end 19 side of the recording paper 17 before transporting to the position passing over the position 54. .

  In the first step, the control unit 64 positions the third support unit 54 at the second position P2 and transports the recording paper 17 to the recordable area 109 on the platen 42 so that the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17 is reached. Ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head 39.

  After the registration process, the LF motor 61 is rotated forward and the transport roller 60 and the paper discharge roller 61 rotate in the transport direction 101. The recording paper 17 is nipped by the transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and transported in the transport direction 101. . When the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 reaches the platen 42, the LF motor 71 is intermittently driven. When the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 reaches the platen 42, the carriage 38 is slid until the lever 90 of the first trigger 83 is rotated. By the rotation of the lever 90, the third support portion 54 is moved to the second position P2.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, when the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 enters the recordable area 109, the control unit 64 is slid together with the carriage 38 while the recording paper 17 is being transported intermittently. Each color ink droplet is selectively ejected from the recording head 39. The ejected ink droplets land on the recording paper 17 supported by the third support portion 54. In this borderless recording, ink droplets are ejected from the peripheral edge of the recording paper 17 to a protruding area. On the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17, the recording head 39 is in the transport direction 101 from the position corresponding to the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 in the recordable area 103 in which the recording head 39 can eject ink droplets as the recording paper 17 is intermittently conveyed. Ink droplets are ejected only on the upstream side.

  As described above, borderless recording is performed on the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17. At this time, since the third support portion 54 is positioned at the second position P2, the third support portion 54 is positioned until the protruding area to the recording paper 17 reaches the third support portion 54 positioned at the second position P2. 3 Ink droplets do not land on the support 54. Further, the recording paper 17 keeps the front end 18 side protruding from the first support portion 45 in the transport direction 101 horizontally without dropping into the groove 51 due to its waist (rigidity). Ink droplets that have not landed on the leading edge 18 of the recording paper 17 land on the groove 51 or the base 53, but as will be described later, the first support portion 45, the second support portion 46, and the third support portion 54. Since the recording paper 17 supported by the ink does not sag into the groove 51, the ink droplets that have landed on the groove 51 do not stain the recording paper 17.

  In the second step, the control unit 64 conveys the recording paper 17 to a position where it passes over the third support portion 54 when the leading end 18 of the recording paper 17 is positioned at the first position P1, and protrudes from the end of the recording paper 17. The third support portion 54 is moved to the first position P1 before the protruding area where the ink droplet is landed on the platen 42 is transported to the position where it reaches the third support portion 54 located at the second position P2. Thus, ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head 39 onto the recording paper 17.

  As shown in FIG. 12B, until the front end 18 of the recording paper 17 on which the marginless recording is performed on the front end 18 side passes over the third support portion 54 when it is positioned at the first position P1. The carriage 38 operates the second trigger 84 before the carriage 38 is moved to a position where the protruding area to the recording paper 17 reaches the third support portion 54 located at the second position P2, and the second trigger 84 is operated. 3 support part 54 is moved to the 1st position P1. When the third support portion 54 moves from the second position P2 to the first position P1, the third support portion 54 and the leading edge 18 of the recording paper 17 can come into contact with each other. As described above, the third support portion 54 Since the upper portion of 54 has a chevron shape in which an inclined surface is formed along the conveying direction 101 and protrudes upward, the tip 18 is guided by the inclined surface of the third support portion 54 and the top of the chevron shape. Supported by As a result, the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17 is supported by the third support portion 54, and is supported by the first support portion 45 on the upstream side in the transport direction 101 from the recordable area 109. By being supported by the third support portion 54, the front end 18 side that protrudes greatly from the first support portion 45 in the transport direction 101 and has landed ink droplets does not sag into the groove 51.

  In the same manner as described above, the control unit 64 performs borderless recording on the leading end 18 side of the recording paper 17. In borderless recording, ink droplets are ejected up to or around the periphery of the recording paper 17, but ink droplets that do not land on the recording paper 17 are applied to the third support portion 54 covered with the recording paper 17. There is no adhesion.

  In the third step, the control unit 64 moves the third support unit 54 before transporting the recording paper 17 to a position where the trailing edge 19 passes over the third support unit 54 positioned at the first position P1. The ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head 39 toward the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 by moving to the second position P2.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, when the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 enters the recordable area 109, borderless recording is performed on the rear end 19 side. The carriage 38 rotates the first trigger 83 until the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 on which borderless recording is performed passes over the third support portion 54 positioned at the first position P1, and the first trigger 83 is rotated. 3 support part 54 is moved to the 2nd position P2. As a result, the recording paper 17 is supported by the third support portion 54 and the second support portion 46 located at the second position P2. By being supported by the third support portion 54, the rear end 19 side that protrudes greatly from the second support portion 46 to the upstream side in the transport direction 101 and has landed ink droplets does not sag into the groove 51. Further, in the marginless recording on the rear end 19 side, even if there is an ink droplet that does not land on the recording paper 17, the ink droplet does not adhere to the third support portion 54 covered with the recording paper 17. .

  In the fourth step, the control unit 64 transports the protruding area to a position that passes over the third support portion 54 when the protruding area is positioned at the first position P1, and the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 is at the second position P2. Before transporting to the position passing over the third support portion 54 positioned at the position 3, the third support portion 54 is moved to the first position P1, and ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 39 to the rear end 19 side of the recording paper 17. Selectively discharge.

  As shown in FIG. 13B, the protruding region passes over the third support portion 54 when it is positioned at the first position P1, and the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 is positioned at the second position P2. Before passing over the third support portion 54, the carriage 38 operates the second trigger 84, and the third support portion 54 is moved to the first position P1.

  Then, borderless recording on the rear end 19 side of the recording paper 17 is continued. Although the third support portion 54 is positioned at the first position P1, since the protruding area to the recording paper 17 passes over the third support portion 54 when it is positioned at the first position P1, recording is performed. Ink droplets that do not land on the paper 17 and go toward the upper surface 43 of the platen 42 do not adhere to the third support portion 54. Further, the recording paper 17 keeps the rear end 19 protruding from the second support portion 46 to the upstream side in the transport direction 101 horizontally without dropping into the groove 51 due to its waist (rigidity). Ink droplets that have not landed on the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17 land on the groove 51, but the recording paper 17 supported by the second support portion 46 does not sag into the groove 51 as described above. Therefore, the ink droplets that land on the groove 51 do not stain the recording paper 17.

  Note that it is needless to say that bordered recording can also be performed in the present modification as in the above-described embodiment.

[Function and effect of modification]
According to the marginless recording method according to the modification, it is not necessary to provide an area for retracting the third support portion 54 outside the recordable area 109, as in the above-described embodiment. As a result, the range of movement in order to avoid ink droplets from adhering to the third support portion 54 is shortened in the transport direction 101, so that the apparatus can be reduced in size and cost. Further, if the recording paper 17 covers the third support portion positioned at the first position P1 or the second position P2, the recording paper 17 is supported by the third support portion 54. Since it is prevented from sagging in the groove 51 between the first support portion 45 and the second support portion 46, the recording paper 17 is prevented from being soiled in borderless recording. Further, when the leading edge 18 or the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17 is in the vicinity of the first position P1 or the second position P2, the first position P1 or the second position on the side where the leading edge 18 or the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17 does not exist. By moving the third support portion 54 to the position P2, even if an ink droplet is ejected from the recording head 39 to the leading end 18 side or the trailing end 19 side of the recording paper 17, the ink droplet adheres to the third supporting portion 54. There is nothing to do.

  Further, when the leading edge 18 or the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17 is transported to the recordable area 109 without causing ink droplets to adhere to the third support portion 54 in marginless recording, the margin is immediately limited without restricting the nozzle 40. No record can be made. Thereby, high-speed image recording can be realized.

  In the present embodiment, in the second step and the third step, the third support portion after the protruding area of the recording paper 17 has passed over the third support portion 54 positioned at the first position P1 or the second position P2. 54 is moved, but in the case of borderless recording, when ink droplets are ejected from the recording head 39 so that the ink droplets do not protrude from the edge such as the leading edge 18 or the trailing edge 19 of the recording paper 17, The third support portion 54 may be moved after the leading end 18 or the rear end 19 of the recording paper 17 has passed over the third support portion 54 located at the first position P1 or the first position P2.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a multifunction machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the recordable area 103 in the recording head 19. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 64 of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the platen 42. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration of the drive mechanism 48. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the driving mechanism 48 by the input of the carriage 38. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the drive mechanism 48 by the input of the carriage 38. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the third support portion 54 in the marginless recording method. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the third support portion 54 in the marginless recording method. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the third support portion 54 in the marginless recording method according to the modification. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the third support portion 54 in the marginless recording method according to the modification.

Explanation of symbols

11: Printer unit (inkjet recording apparatus)
25 ... Paper feed roller (conveyance mechanism)
39: Recording head 40 ... Nozzle (discharge port)
42 ... Platen 43 ... Upper surface 45 ... First support 46 ... Second support 48 ... Drive mechanism 51 ... Groove 52 ... Slit 54 ... Third support 60: Conveying roller (conveying mechanism)
62... Discharge roller (conveying mechanism)
64... Control unit (control means)
103, 109 ... recordable area

Claims (8)

A platen that supports the sheet on its upper surface;
A transport mechanism for transporting the sheet onto the platen;
Recording in which ink droplets are selectively ejected from each ejection port from a plurality of ejection ports arranged opposite to the upper surface of the platen and arranged in the direction of sheet conveyance by the conveyance mechanism toward the upper surface of the platen Head,
A first projecting from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head and disposed upstream and downstream in the transport direction from a recordable area in which all ejection ports capable of ejecting ink droplets are arranged in the recording head. A support part and a second support part;
A third support portion that protrudes from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head and is movable to at least a first position on the upstream side and a second position on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction in the recordable area. When,
A drive mechanism for moving the third support portion to at least the first position and the second position;
Corresponding to the leading edge position or the trailing edge position of the sheet, the third support portion is positioned at the first position or the second position, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head onto the sheet so that there is no edge. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs recording.   The control means positions the third support portion at the first position, conveys the sheet to a position where the third support portion can be covered, and then drops ink droplets from the recording head to the leading end side of the sheet. Is selectively ejected, and the sheet is conveyed to a position where the third support portion can be covered when it is positioned at the second position, and then the third support portion is moved to the second position. Ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the sheet, and the trailing edge of the sheet or the protruding region where the ink droplet protrudes from the edge of the sheet and lands on the platen is positioned at the first position. Before the third support portion is conveyed to a position where it passes over the third support portion and the rear end of the sheet is conveyed to a position where it passes over the third support portion where the second position is located, the third support portion is moved. Moved to the first position An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1 to the rear end side of the sheet is intended to ink droplets selectively ejected from the recording head Te.   The control means positions the third support portion at the second position, conveys the sheet to the recordable area on the platen, and selectively drops ink droplets from the recording head on the leading end side of the sheet. And the sheet is transported until it passes over the third support when the leading edge is positioned at the first position, and the leading edge of the sheet or ink droplets protrudes from the edge of the sheet and moves onto the platen. Before the protruding area landed on the sheet reaches the third support part positioned at the second position, the third support part is moved to the first position and the recording head is moved to the sheet. Before the ink droplets are selectively ejected from the sheet and the sheet is transported to a position where the trailing edge of the sheet passes over the third support portion positioned at the first position, the third support portion is moved to the second position. position The first region is a protruding region where the ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet, and the rear end of the sheet or the ink droplet protrudes from the end of the sheet and landed on the platen. Before the sheet is conveyed to a position that passes through the third support portion when positioned at the position and the rear end of the sheet is conveyed to a position that passes through the third support portion positioned at the second position. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third support portion is moved to the first position to selectively eject ink droplets from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet.   A first distance along the transport direction from the first support portion to the first position, a second distance along the transport direction from the first position to the second position, and the second position. 4. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a third distance along the conveying direction to the second support portion is substantially equal. 5.   5. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of third support portions are arranged in a first direction intersecting the transport direction.   6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third support portion protrudes from the upper surface toward the recording head through a slit formed on the upper surface of the platen. A first support portion and a second support portion that protrude from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head and are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed from the recordable area by the recording head, and from the upper surface of the platen A third support that protrudes toward the recording head and is movable at least in a first position on the upstream side and a second position on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction in the recordable area; In an inkjet recording apparatus,
After the third support portion is positioned at the first position and the sheet is transported to a position where the third support portion can be covered, ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the leading end side of the sheet. A first step of
After transporting the sheet to a position where the third support portion can be covered with the second support position when it is positioned at the second position, the third support portion is moved to the second position to move the sheet from the recording head to the sheet. A second step of selectively ejecting ink drops;
The trailing edge of the sheet or ink droplets protrudes from the edge of the sheet and is landed on the platen. The protruding area is conveyed to a position where it passes over the third support portion when positioned at the first position, and the sheet. Before the rear end of the sheet is conveyed to the position passing over the third support portion positioned at the second position, the third support portion is moved to the first position and the sheet is moved toward the rear end side of the sheet. And a third step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head. A first support portion and a second support portion that protrude from the upper surface of the platen toward the recording head and are arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveyance direction in which the sheet is conveyed from the recordable area by the recording head, and from the upper surface of the platen A third support that protrudes toward the recording head and is movable at least in a first position on the upstream side and a second position on the downstream side with respect to the transport direction in the recordable area; In an inkjet recording apparatus,
The first support is positioned at the second position, the sheet is transported to the recordable area on the platen, and ink droplets are selectively ejected from the recording head to the leading end side of the sheet. Steps,
A protrusion that is transported to the position where the leading edge of the sheet passes through the third support portion when it is positioned at the first position, and the leading edge of the sheet or the ink droplet protrudes from the edge of the sheet and is landed on the platen. Before transporting the region to the position where the region reaches the third support portion positioned at the second position, the third support portion is moved to the first position to drop ink droplets from the recording head onto the sheet. A second step of selectively discharging;
Before the sheet is transported to a position where the trailing edge of the sheet passes over the third supporting part positioned at the first position, the trailing edge of the sheet is moved to the second position. A third step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head to the side,
The rear end of the sheet or the protruding region is transported to a position where it passes over the third support portion when positioned at the first position, and the rear end of the sheet is positioned at the second position. A fourth step of selectively ejecting ink droplets from the recording head to the rear end side of the sheet by moving the third support to the first position before transporting to a position passing over the third support; And a borderless recording method.

Images