JP2010150017A - Cleaning device and cleaning method of electrostatic attraction member - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device and a cleaning method of an electrostatic attraction member for appropriately removing a stain such as ink stuck to an electrostatic attraction member electrostatically attracting a recording medium and moving in the recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: In a cleaning mechanism 4 of an ink-jet printer 1, a photocatalytic layer is formed on a surface of an insulation layer, a recording medium P, to which ink is blown from an ink-jet head, is electrostatically attracted, an electrostatic attraction belt 33 moved in a transfer direction of the recording medium P is moved in the transfer direction, and a stain on a recording medium attracting surface attracting the recording medium P of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is detected by a stain sensor 41. When a stain is detected, ultraviolet ray activating the photocatalytic layer of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 moved in the transfer direction is radiated from a ray radiating part 41, and water is provided on the recording medium attracting surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33, to which ultraviolet ray has been radiated, through a water providing part 43. Then, the recording medium attracting surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is cleaned with a cleaning part 44. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic attraction member cleaning device and an electrostatic attraction member cleaning method, and more particularly, to static cleaning that appropriately cleans dirt such as ink adhering to an electrostatic attraction member that electrostatically attracts and transports a recording medium. The present invention relates to an electroadhesive member cleaning device and an electrostatic adsorbing member cleaning method.

  As an image forming apparatus that prints and outputs an image on paper based on image data, it is high speed, low noise, there are few restrictions on the type of recording medium, and colorization is easy. (Hereinafter, referred to as an ink jet image forming apparatus as appropriate) has become widespread.

  An ink jet image forming apparatus ejects ink droplets from nozzles and moves an image onto a recording medium while relatively moving an ink head equipped with fine nozzles that eject minute ink droplets and a recording medium such as paper. Form. The ink droplets ejected from the nozzles land on the recording medium to form an image, but a part of the ink ejected from the nozzles does not land at the intended position on the recording medium, and the ink head as a mist Or scattered near the carriage on which the ink head is mounted.

  On the other hand, in an ink jet image forming apparatus, there is a concern that a recording medium generally bends a portion where ink is attached due to moisture, and a jam (paper clogging) occurs due to the deflection.

  Therefore, in recent years, also in an ink jet image forming apparatus, an electrostatic attraction belt type conveyance mechanism that is also used in a laser printer has been used as a recording medium conveyance mechanism for conveying a recording medium.

  In other words, the electrostatic adsorption belt type conveyance mechanism adsorbs and conveys the recording medium on the electrostatic drive belt that is driven to convey, and thus suppresses the deflection of the recording medium due to ink droplets in the ink jet image forming apparatus, Good image forming performance and conveyance performance can be ensured.

  However, in the ink jet image forming apparatus, as described above, a part of the ink ejected from the ink head is scattered, and the scattered ink mist adheres to the ink head and the carriage, or conveys the recording medium. It may adhere to the electroadsorption belt. In the electrostatic attraction belt type transport mechanism, when ink is scattered on the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt, the potential on the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt decreases, and the adsorbability of the recording medium to the electrostatic attraction belt is weak. Become. As a result, even if the electrostatic attraction belt is driven for transport, the recording medium is not transported together with the electrostatic attraction belt, and the transportability is lowered.

  Conventionally, a technique has been disclosed in which a cleaning roller is brought into contact with an endless belt that adsorbs and conveys a recording medium so as to be separated from the endless belt to remove and clean the endless belt (see Patent Document 1). ). In this prior art, an ink on an electrostatic attraction belt, which is an endless belt, is to be removed by using, as a cleaning roller, a roller formed of a material having better ink fixability than an endless belt.

JP 2007-69438 A

  However, in the prior art described in the above-mentioned patent document, a cleaning roller made of a material having better ink fixability than an electrostatic adsorption belt that is an endless belt is brought into contact with the electrostatic adsorption belt to electrostatically adsorb. Since the ink adhering to the belt is to be removed, the ink is not sufficiently removed, and the transportability of the recording medium may be reduced.

  That is, ink stains adhering to the electrostatic attraction belt are difficult to remove electrostatically when dried, and cleaning may be insufficient. In this case, it is conceivable that ink stains are removed by strongly pressing a somewhat hard cleaning member such as a roller or a blade against the electrostatic adsorption belt to remove the ink stains. However, even if a strong cleaning member is pressed against the electrostatic adsorption belt and brought into sliding contact with the electrostatic adsorption belt, dry ink stains can be scraped off to some extent, but the cleaning member scratches the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt and The insulating layer on the surface of the electroadsorption belt is damaged, and the adsorption force between the recording medium and the electrostatic adsorption belt is reduced. As a result, the conveyance performance of the recording medium by the electrostatic adsorption belt may be deteriorated.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an electrostatic chuck member cleaning device and an electrostatic chuck member cleaning device that appropriately removes dirt such as ink adhering to an electrostatic chuck member that electrostatically attracts and conveys a recording medium from the electrostatic chuck member. It aims to provide a method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a photocatalyst layer formed on the surface of an insulating layer, electrostatically adsorbs the recording medium, and transports the recording medium by being moved in the transporting direction of the recording medium. The electrostatic adsorption member is irradiated with active light that activates the photocatalyst layer from the light irradiation means, and the recording medium adsorption surface that adsorbs the recording medium of the electrostatic adsorption member irradiated with the active light from the light irradiation means, The recording medium adsorbing surface is cleaned by a cleaning unit after moisture is applied from the moisture applying unit.

  Further, in the present invention, the moisture applying means may apply moisture by bringing the moisture applying member containing water into contact with the electrostatic adsorption member so as to be detachable and mounted on the traveling body moving in the main scanning direction. It is good also as providing moisture to an electrostatic attraction member from a done moisture ejection head.

  Further, according to the present invention, the cleaning means has predetermined flexibility and non-moisture absorbability, and allows the cleaning member having a length over a predetermined region in the main scanning direction of the electrostatic attraction member to be attached to and detached from the electrostatic attraction member. The electrostatic attraction member may be cleaned by contacting it.

  According to the present invention, dirt such as ink adhering to an electrostatic attraction member that electrostatically attracts a recording medium and moves in the transport direction can be appropriately cleaned.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  FIGS. 1-16 is a figure which shows one Example of the electrostatic attraction member cleaning apparatus and electrostatic attraction member cleaning method of this invention, FIG. 1 is the electrostatic attraction member cleaning apparatus and electrostatic attraction of this invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet printer 1 to which an embodiment of a member cleaning method is applied.

  In FIG. 1, an inkjet printer 1 includes a paper feed mechanism unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a cleaning mechanism unit 4, a paper discharge mechanism unit 5, and the like.

  The paper feed mechanism unit 2 includes a paper feed tray 21, a paper feed roller and a transport roller 22 (not shown), and a recording medium P such as a plurality of sheets is stored in the paper feed tray 21. The paper feed mechanism unit 2 separates and feeds the recording media P in the paper feed tray 21 one by one with a paper feed roller, and the recording medium P sent from the paper feed tray 21 is transferred to the image forming unit 3 by the transport roller 22. Transport.

  The image forming unit 3 includes an endless electrostatic chucking belt (electrostatic chucking member) 33 stretched between a pair of rollers 31 and 32 and a carriage (running body) 35 supported by a guide shaft 34 (see FIG. 3). Around the electrostatic attraction belt 33, a charging roller (not shown) for applying an electric charge to the electrostatic attraction belt 33, a static elimination brush (not shown) for eliminating the electrostatic attraction belt 33, and A cleaning mechanism section (electrostatic attracting member cleaning device) 4 to be described later is disposed in a state of being close to or in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electrostatic attracting belt 33 (recording medium attracting surface for attracting the recording medium P). Yes. The rollers 31 and 32 are arranged in a direction extending longer than the recording medium P having the maximum width in the main scanning direction (a direction orthogonal to the belt rotation direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1), and a belt drive motor (not shown) The electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is rotationally driven in the belt rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) by being rotationally driven by the (adsorption member driving means). The electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is formed in an endless belt shape having a width equal to or larger than the maximum recording medium width size in the main scanning direction, and an insulating layer for electrostatically adsorbing the recording medium P is formed. The photocatalyst is coated on the surface with a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the photocatalyst coated on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is set in balance with the members of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, the thickness of the insulating layer, and the applied voltage. That is, when a voltage is applied to the electrostatic chucking belt 33 by the charging roller, the surface of the electrostatic chucking belt 33 is increased by increasing the surface potential of the electrostatic chucking belt 33 when the insulating layer is thinner even if the voltage is the same. Although the suction force between the electrostatic chucking belt 33 can be increased, if the insulating layer is thin, the insulating layer on the surface of the electrostatic chucking belt 33 may be destroyed depending on the voltage applied by the charging roller. The Although the value of the dielectric breakdown voltage of the insulating layer varies depending on the material of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, it is generally known that the dielectric breakdown voltage is proportional to the 0.65th power of the thickness of the insulating layer. For example, when an insulating material that causes dielectric breakdown at 12 kV when the insulating layer is 100 μm is used, the thickness of the insulating layer that reaches the dielectric breakdown voltage when a voltage of 4.2 kV is applied is 20 μm. When this material is used as the material of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, the combined thickness of the insulating layer and the photocatalyst layer is 40 μm, assuming the environment, material variations, and temporal deterioration in actual use. However, when the experiment was conducted under the above conditions, it was confirmed that if the thickness was 40 μm, the insulating layer was not broken and sufficient adsorption power could be obtained. did it.

  The carriage 35 is supported by a guide shaft 34 (see FIG. 3) disposed so as to extend in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium P, and is attached to the guide shaft 34 by a carriage drive motor (not shown). Along the main scanning direction. The carriage 35 includes Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) ink heads and ink cartridges that supply ink of each color to the ink heads. Each color ink head is provided with a nozzle for ejecting ink onto the recording medium P conveyed by the electrostatic adsorption belt 33.

  The image forming unit 3 rotates the electrostatic attraction belt 33 stretched between the rollers 31 and 32 by a belt driving motor, and rotates the recording medium P conveyed from the paper feeding mechanism unit 2 to be driven statically. The carriage 35 is moved in the main scanning direction by a carriage drive motor while being attracted to the electroadsorption belt 33 and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction, and ink is ejected from the nozzles of the ink heads of each color mounted on the carriage 35 onto the recording medium P. Then, a color image is formed on the recording medium P.

  Although not shown, the image forming apparatus 3 includes a belt rotation amount sensor that detects the rotation amount (for example, the rotation number) of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 and a carriage movement amount sensor that detects the movement amount of the carriage 35 in the main scanning direction. Etc. are provided. The belt rotation amount sensor includes, for example, a linear scale formed on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 at a predetermined interval, a reflective or transmissive optical sensor that detects the linear scale, an encoder that detects the rotation of the belt drive motor, and the like. As the carriage movement amount sensor, for example, an encoder that detects the rotation amount of the carriage drive motor, an optical sensor that detects the movement position of the carriage 35, or the like is used.

  The paper discharge mechanism unit 5 includes a paper discharge roller 51 and a paper discharge tray (not shown). When the recording medium P on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 3 is conveyed by the electrostatic attraction belt 33, The recording medium P on which the image is formed is discharged onto a paper discharge tray.

  The cleaning mechanism unit 4 includes a stain detection unit 41, a light irradiation unit 42, a moisture application unit 43, a cleaning unit 44, and the like, and cleans ink adhering to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. The dirt detection unit (dirt detection means) 41 projects a light source for projecting detection light onto the surface (surface: recording medium suction surface) to which the recording medium P is attached of the electrostatic suction belt 33 and the detection light from the recording medium P. A stain sensor including a photosensor that receives reflected light is provided, and the presence or absence of stains such as ink adhering to the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is detected. For example, when the dirt sensor of the dirt detection unit 41 detects dirt with a predetermined short length in the main scanning direction of a photo sensor or the like, for example, as shown in FIG. In addition, a plurality (five in FIG. 2) of dirt sensors 41a to 41e may be provided to detect the presence or absence of dirt at predetermined intervals in the main scanning direction of the electrostatic attraction belt 33. Further, the dirt detection unit 41 may detect dirt on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 by a line dirt sensor that detects dirt in a line shape over the width of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 in the main scanning direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the dirt detection unit 41 has a dirt sensor 41p attached to the carriage 35 and moves the carriage 35 along the guide shaft 34 to detect a predetermined detection position in the main scanning direction (the detection position in FIG. 3). The dirt of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 may be detected by the dirt sensor 41p using Ka, Kb, Kc, etc.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the light irradiation unit (light irradiation means) 42 includes a light source 42 a that emits ultraviolet light (active light), a reflection plate 42 b, and the like. Light (active light) having a wavelength (for example, a wavelength of about 365 nm) that activates the photocatalyst coated on 33 is emitted. The light irradiation unit 42 directly irradiates the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 with the light emitted from the light source 42a, and reflects the light by the reflecting plate 42b to irradiate the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. As the light source 42a, a light source emitting light having a wavelength of about 365 nm that activates the photocatalyst of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is used as described above. The photocatalyst also reacts in visible light such as 400 nm to 600 nm. Since there is also a photocatalyst, a light source that emits a wavelength corresponding to the type of photocatalyst actually coated on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is used. The light irradiation unit 42 irradiates the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 with light, thereby activating the photocatalyst coated on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, improving hydrophilicity, and exceeding the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. Set to a hydrophilic state.

  The moisture applying unit (moisture providing unit) 43 has a function of supplying moisture to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a water storage unit 43b that stores water 43a, It includes a moisture applying member 43c that is detachably attached to the electrostatic attraction belt 33, a member moving unit (moisture providing member moving mechanism) (not shown), and the like. The moisture imparting member 43c is made of hydrophilic resin or the like, and sucks up the water 43a stored in the water reservoir 43b into the entire moisture imparting member 43c by capillary action. The moisture applying unit 43 is driven by the member moving unit at the timing of supplying water to bring the moisture applying member 43 c into contact with the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, and supplies the water 43 a to the moisture applying member 43 c to supply the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. Wet.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the water | moisture content provision part 43 may be provided with the water supply function part 43d which automatically supplies the water 43a to the water storage part 43b. The water supply function part (water supply means) 43d includes a Peltier element 43e and a fin 43f, and the fin 43f is attached to the N → P junction of the Peltier element 43e. When a current flows through the PN junction of the Peltier element 43e, an endothermic phenomenon occurs at the N → P junction, a heat dissipation phenomenon occurs at the P → N junction, and the N → P due to the endothermic phenomenon at the N → P junction. The temperature of the fin 43f attached to the P-joining portion is lowered, and the temperature around the fin 43f is lowered. As a result, water due to condensation adheres to the fins 43f, and the water attached to the fins 43f falls into the water storage part 43b by its own weight, and the water 43a accumulates in the water storage part 43b.

  Further, as described above, the moisture application unit 43 is not limited to the configuration in which the moisture application member 43c containing moisture is brought into contact with the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 to supply moisture to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. The ultrasonic vibrator is installed in the water storage section 43b, and the ultrasonic vibrator is operated at the water supply timing to vaporize the water 43a in the water storage section 43b, and on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. The structure to which it adheres may be sufficient. Further, as another configuration of the moisture applying unit 43, for example, the water storage unit 43b or the water 43a in the water storage unit 43b is heated by a heater or the like to generate water vapor, and the water vapor is applied to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. The structure to which it adheres may be sufficient.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the moisture application unit 43 includes at least a moisture supply head 43 g mounted on the carriage 35, and is moved in the width direction of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 at the moisture supply timing. A configuration may be adopted in which moisture is directly discharged from the moisture supply head 43g mounted on the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33. The moisture supply head 43g can be configured to eject moisture using, for example, the above ultrasonic vibrator or the like, and supplies moisture to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 with the moisture supply width H shown in FIG. .

  And since the water | moisture content supplied to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 from such a moisture provision part 43 is irradiated with light from the light irradiation part 42 previously, the hydrophilicity is improved. Since the photocatalyst is spread over the entire surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 and the photocatalyst is in a super-hydrophilic state, water enters between the ink stain and the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, and the dirt is lifted up. And

  The cleaning unit (cleaning unit) 44 is for cleaning ink adhering to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, and is disposed so as to be detachable from the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, for example, as shown in FIG. The cleaning member 44a, the cleaning member cleaning member 44b, and the cleaning member moving unit (not shown) are provided.

  The cleaning member 44a has flexibility and is in close contact with the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 because ink stains on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 are lifted by water and less force is required to remove the ink and the like. A member that removes dirt and does not absorb moisture, such as rubber or other resin, can be used. In particular, it has flexibility such as a wiper rubber of a car and softly adheres to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. Thus, a material that removes dust and does not absorb moisture is preferable. The cleaning member moving part (cleaning member transfer mechanism part) uses a solenoid or the like to which the cleaning member 44a is connected, and moves the cleaning member 44a in the direction of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 only during cleaning. The belt is brought into close contact with the belt 33 and is separated from the electrostatic attraction belt 33 at the time of non-cleaning. The cleaning member cleaning member 44b is in close contact with the periphery of the cleaning member 44a, and the ink removed from the electrostatic attraction belt 33 attached to the cleaning member 44a when the cleaning member 44a is moved by the cleaning member moving unit. Remove dirt such as dirt.

  The ink jet printer 1 has a block configuration as shown in FIG. 9 and includes the paper feed mechanism unit 2, the image forming unit 3, the cleaning mechanism unit 4, and the paper discharge mechanism unit 5 as well as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). A processing unit 6, a read only memory (ROM) 7, a random access memory (RAM) 8, an I / F 9, an operation display unit (not shown), and the like, are connected by a bus 10.

  The ROM 7 stores a basic program as the ink jet printer 1, a conveyance member cleaning processing program for causing a computer to execute a conveyance member cleaning method of the present invention, which will be described later, and necessary basic data. The CPU 6 is based on a program in the ROM 7. The RAM 8 is used as a work memory to control each part of the ink jet printer 1 to execute basic processing as the ink jet printer 1 and transport member cleaning processing.

  That is, the inkjet printer 1 includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), a DVD ( A ROM 7 is read by reading a cleaning control program for executing the conveying member cleaning method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a digital video disk (SD), a secure digital (SD) card, or a magneto-optical disc (MO). Or an ink jet printer 1 that implements a conveying member cleaning method for efficiently and appropriately cleaning an electrostatic attraction belt 33 to be described later by being introduced into a hard disk (not shown) or the like. This cleaning control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  A host device that transfers print data to an inkjet printer 1 such as a computer (not shown) to form an image is directly connected to the I / F 9 via a network or a cable. The I / F 9 is connected to the host device. The control signals and data necessary for the image forming process are transferred.

  The operation display unit includes various keys necessary for operating the ink jet printer 1 and also includes lamps such as a display (for example, a liquid crystal display) and an LED (Light Emitting Diode). Various operations necessary for the used printing process and various operations in the cleaning process of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 as will be described later are performed, and the command contents input from the operation keys and the operator from the inkjet printer 1 are notified on the display. Various information to be displayed, in particular, an abnormality notification due to the conveying member cleaning process of the electrostatic chuck belt 33 is displayed. The I / F 9 and the operation display unit function as a warning unit that notifies a warning that the electrostatic attraction belt 33 has not been properly performed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the cleaning mechanism unit 4 reliably and efficiently removes dirt such as ink adhering to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 that conveys the recording medium P during image formation.

  That is, the ink jet printer 1 attracts the recording medium P conveyed from the paper feed mechanism unit 2 to the image forming unit 3 to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 that is driven to rotate in the belt rotation direction that is the sub-scanning direction. The ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the ink heads mounted on the carriage 35 toward the recording medium P while the carriage 35 is moved in the main scanning direction while being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. An image is formed on. The ink jet printer 1 discharges and places the recording medium P on which image formation has been completed on a discharge tray by a discharge roller.

  In the ink jet printer 1, during this image formation, some of the ink droplets ejected from the nozzles do not land at the intended position on the recording medium P, but scatter in the vicinity of the ink head as a mist, thereby It adheres to 33. When dirt such as ink adheres to the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33, the surface potential of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is lowered, and the adsorbability of the recording medium P to the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is weakened. There is a possibility that the transportability of the medium P is lowered, the image quality of the formed image is lowered, or the recording medium P is jammed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the inkjet printer 1 detects the dirt on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 by the cleaning mechanism unit 4 and cleans the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 according to the degree of dirt. Processing (conveyance member cleaning basic control processing) is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the inkjet printer 1 has an arbitrary timing that is not in image formation, such as a predetermined timing, for example, a timing when the power of the inkjet printer 1 is turned on, a return operation timing after a jam of the recording medium P occurs. At the timing, the CPU 7 clears the belt cleaning counter provided in the interior and starts rotation of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 by rotating the belt drive motor in order to detect dirt on the electrostatic attraction belt 33. (Step S101), it is checked whether the counter value of the belt cleaning counter is smaller than a predetermined value Ka set in advance (Step S102). The reason why the stain on the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is detected at a timing when the image is not being formed is to detect the stain without reducing the productivity of image formation. Here, the belt cleaning counter is a counter that counts the number of cleanings of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 (counts every time the cleaning sequence is rotated once). Specifically, every time the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 makes one rotation. Count up. The predetermined value Ka is a value indicating how many times the electrostatic attraction belt 33 has been rotated for cleaning before notification of abnormality. The predetermined value Ka is set to “1” when the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 or the inkjet printer 1 is new, because the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is less contaminated and can be removed with a smaller number of cleanings. As the electroadsorption belt 33 and the inkjet printer 1 are used over 2 years, 3 years, etc., the frequency of contamination increases, and the chances of contamination that can be removed by multiple cleaning processes increase, so a service person is used. It is desirable that it can be changed arbitrarily according to the situation of the machine.

  If the counter value of the belt cleaning counter is smaller than the predetermined value Ka in step S102, the CPU 7 determines whether or not the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is dirty based on the detection result of the dirt detection unit 41 (step S102). S103). The CPU 7 performs the presence / absence of contamination on the electrostatic attraction belt 33 based on a detection signal from the contamination sensor of the contamination detection unit 41. Details will be described later.

  If the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is dirty in step S103, the CPU 7 turns on the light source of the light irradiation unit 42 and irradiates the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 with ultraviolet rays (step S104). The surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is coated with a photocatalyst, and the photocatalyst is activated by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays. It becomes a super hydrophilic state.

  Next, the CPU 7 drives the moisture applying unit 43 to supply moisture to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, wets the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, and raises dirt (step S105). That is, since the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is activated by irradiation of ultraviolet rays with the photocatalyst and is in a super-hydrophilic state, the moisture supplied from the moisture applying unit 43 is uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. The moisture that spreads in a uniform manner and spreads evenly has a strong connection with the photocatalyst layer of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 and enters between the dirt of ink and the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, thereby electrostatic adsorption. Stain of ink or the like adhering to the belt 33 is lifted.

  Next, the CPU 7 drives the cleaning member moving part of the cleaning part 44 to clean the ink and the like of the lifted electrostatic adsorption belt 33 by the cleaning member 44a (step S106), and increments the belt cleaning counter (step S106). "+1") (step S107), and the process returns to step S102. When the CPU 7 returns to step S102, the CPU 7 checks whether the belt cleaning counter is smaller than the predetermined value Ka (step S102). If the belt cleaning counter is smaller than the predetermined value Ka, the CPU 7 performs static The dirt is sequentially cleaned from the detection of the dirt on the electroadsorption belt 33 (steps S103 to S107).

  If it is determined in step S103 that the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is not dirty, the CPU 7 stops the rotation of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 and ends the conveying member cleaning process (step S108).

  When the belt cleaning counter becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value Ka in step S102, the CPU 7 determines that the cleaning has not been achieved even if the electrostatic chucking belt 33 is cleaned a predetermined number of times K, and the electrostatic chucking belt 33 is determined. Is stopped (step S109), and a warning notification is sent to the effect that the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is dirty on the display of the operation display unit and a response process such as a request for cleaning to a service person or the like is necessary. An abnormality notification is made by a method such as sending a warning notification to a predetermined host device via / F9, and the conveying member cleaning process is terminated (step S110).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inkjet printer 1 includes a plurality of (four in FIG. 2) dirt sensors in the main scanning direction (width direction of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33). When 41a to 41e are disposed, the dirt detection process of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 in step S103 is performed as shown in FIG. That is, in the stain detection, the CPU 7 first clears a belt rotation counter that counts the rotation amount of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step S201), and then starts counting up the belt rotation counter (step S202). Reading of the values of the respective dirt sensors 41a to 41e of the dirt detecting unit 41 is started (step S203), and it is checked whether the count value of the belt rotation counter is larger than a preset dirt judgment rotation amount Kb (step S204). . The belt rotation counter is a counter built in the CPU 7 that counts the rotational movement amount of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. For example, a rotation sensor such as an encoder that detects the rotation amount of the drive motor of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is used. Based on the detection signal, the rotation amount of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is counted. The belt rotation counter is not limited to counting the detection signal of the rotation sensor and counting the amount of movement of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. For example, the number of rotations of a belt drive motor that drives the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 to rotate. Therefore, as the belt rotation counter, the rotation time of the belt drive motor may be counted, and the movement amount of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 may be calculated from the rotation time. The contamination determination rotation amount Kb is a state of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 continuously by the contamination sensors 41a to 41e in order to determine the contamination such as ink on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 by the detection results of the contamination sensors 41a to 41e. Is a rotation amount of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 for detecting the rotation, and at least a count value of the rotation amount of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 for one rotation is set and stored in the ROM 7 or the like in advance.

  In step S204, the CPU 7 waits for the count value of the belt rotation counter to become the dirt determination rotation amount Kb, finishes reading the detection values of the respective dirt sensors 41a to 41e, and performs electrostatic attraction by the dirt determination rotation amount Kb. An average value (average detection value) of detection values detected by the respective dirt sensors 41a to 41e while the belt 33 is rotating is calculated (step S205).

  The CPU 7 checks whether among the average detection values of the plurality of dirt sensors 41a to 41e, the average detection value of any one of the dirt sensors 41a to 41e exceeds a preset dirt reference value V (step S206). If the average detection value of any one of the dirt sensors 41a to 41e exceeds the dirt reference value V, it is determined that there is dirt due to ink or the like on the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step S207). If the average detected value of any of the dirt sensors 41a to 41e does not exceed the dirt reference value V in step S206, the CPU 7 determines that the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is not dirty (step S208).

  Note that in the inkjet printer 1, when the dirt sensor of the dirt detection unit 41 is mounted on the carriage 35 as shown in FIG. 3, the dirt detection processing of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 in step S103 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the dirt in the predetermined measurement range is detected by the dirt sensor 41p mounted on the carriage 35 at the plurality of detection positions Pa to Pc in FIG.

  That is, the CPU 7 drives the carriage drive motor to move the carriage 35 to the first detection position Pa in the width direction of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step S301) and clears the belt rotation counter (step S302). Then, dirt detection by the dirt sensor 41p is started (step S303). The CPU 7 starts to rotate the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step S304), and starts counting up the belt rotation counter (step S305). The CPU 7 waits for the count value of the belt rotation counter to become the dirt determination rotation amount Kb (step S306), finishes reading the detection value of the dirt sensor 41p, and the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is moved by the dirt determination rotation amount Kb. An average value (average detection value) of detection values detected by the dirt sensor 41p during rotation is calculated (step S307).

  The CPU 7 checks whether the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p exceeds a preset dirt reference value V (step S308). If the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p exceeds the dirt reference value V, the CPU 7 It is determined that the surface of the electroadsorption belt 33 is contaminated with ink or the like (step S309). When the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p does not exceed the dirt reference value V in step S308, the CPU 7 moves the carriage 35 to the next detection position Pb in the width direction of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step S310). ) At the detection position Pb, stain detection is performed in the same manner as described above. That is, after clearing the belt rotation counter (step S311), the CPU 7 starts detecting dirt by the dirt sensor 41p (step S312). The CPU 7 starts to rotate the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step S313) and starts counting up the belt rotation counter (step S314). The CPU 7 waits for the count value of the belt rotation counter to become the dirt determination rotation amount Kb (step S315), finishes reading the detection value of the dirt sensor 41p, and the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is moved by the dirt determination rotation amount Kb. An average value (average detection value) of detection values detected by the dirt sensor 41p during rotation is calculated (step S316).

  The CPU 7 checks whether the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p exceeds a preset dirt reference value V (step S317). If the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p exceeds the dirt reference value V, the CPU 7 It is determined that the surface of the electroadsorption belt 33 is contaminated with ink or the like (step S309).

  If the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p does not exceed the dirt reference value V in step S317, the CPU 7 moves the carriage 35 to the next detection position Pb in the width direction of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step S318). At the detection position Pb, dirt detection is performed in the same manner as described above. That is, after clearing the belt rotation counter (step S319), the CPU 7 starts detecting dirt by the dirt sensor 41p (step S320). The CPU 7 starts to rotate the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step S321), and starts to count up the belt rotation counter (step S322). The CPU 7 waits for the count value of the belt rotation counter to become the dirt determination rotation amount Kb (step S323), finishes reading the detection value of the dirt sensor 41p, and the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is moved by the dirt determination rotation amount Kb. An average value (average detection value) of detection values detected by the dirt sensor 41p during rotation is calculated (step S324).

  The CPU 7 checks whether the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p exceeds a preset dirt reference value V (step S325). If the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p exceeds the dirt reference value V, the CPU 7 It is determined that the surface of the electroadsorption belt 33 is contaminated with ink or the like (step S309).

  When the average detection value of the dirt sensor 41p does not exceed the dirt reference value V in step S325, the CPU 7 determines that the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is not dirty and ends the dirt detection process (step S326).

  Next, the details of the light irradiation process in step S104 of FIG. 10 will be described based on FIG. If the CPU 7 determines that the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is dirty in the dirt detection process, the CPU 7 once clears the belt rotation counter (step S401) and starts counting up the belt rotation counter (step S402). The light source 42a of the light irradiation unit 42 is turned on and irradiation of ultraviolet rays onto the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is started (step S403).

  When the CPU 7 starts light irradiation on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, the CPU 7 checks whether or not the belt rotation counter has exceeded an irradiation setting value L indicating the irradiation length of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 set in advance (Step S7). S404) When the belt rotation counter exceeds the irradiation set value L, the light source 42a of the light irradiation unit 42 is turned off and the light irradiation process is terminated (step S405). The irradiation set value L is set to the minimum rotation amount of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 for one rotation. The entire surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the light source 42a of the light irradiating unit 42, thereby The photocatalyst coated on the entire surface of the electroadsorption belt 33 is activated to make the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 super hydrophilic.

  Next, details of the water supply process in step S105 of FIG. 10 will be described based on FIG. The CPU 7 once clears the belt rotation counter (step S501), starts counting up the belt rotation counter (step S502), drives the member moving unit of the moisture applying unit 43, and has hydrophilicity including water 43a. The water supply member 43c is brought into contact with the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, whereby supply of moisture to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is started (step S503).

  When the CPU 7 starts supplying moisture to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, the CPU 7 checks whether or not the belt rotation counter exceeds a preset moisture supply value M1 indicating the moisture supply length of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 set in advance. (Step S504) When the belt rotation counter exceeds the moisture supply set value M1, the driving of the member moving unit of the moisture applying unit 43 is stopped, and the moisture supply to the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 by the moisture applying unit 43 is ended. (Step S505). The moisture supply set value M1 is set to a rotation amount at which the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 makes one rotation at a minimum, and is applied to the entire surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 that has been in a super hydrophilic state by the previous light irradiation process. Moisture from the moisture applying unit 43 is supplied and the ink adhering to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is made to float.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the moisture applying unit 43 has at least a moisture supply head 43g mounted on the carriage 35 and discharges moisture from the moisture supply head 43g onto the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. Sometimes, a moisture supply process is performed as shown in FIG. That is, the CPU 7 once clears a carriage movement counter that is a counter that is counted up when the carriage 35 moves by one direction (one way) in the width direction (main scanning direction) of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 (step). S601), whether the carriage movement counter is equal to or less than the preset movement amount counter value C, that is, the carriage 35 is moved to the entire surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 by the movement amount for supplying moisture from the moisture supply head 43g. Is checked (step S602).

  If the counter value of the carriage movement counter is equal to or smaller than the set movement amount counter value C in step S602, the CPU 7 determines that moisture is not supplied to the entire surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33, and stops the belt drive motor. Then, the rotational movement of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is stopped, and the belt rotation counter that counts the rotation amount of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is once cleared (step S603). The CPU 7 starts the carriage movement to rotate the carriage drive motor to drive the carriage 35 by one way while driving the moisture applying unit 43 to discharge moisture from the moisture supply head 43g (step S604), and to drive the belt. The motor is driven to start the rotation of the electrostatic attraction belt 33, and the belt rotation counter starts counting up (step S605). The CPU 7 checks whether the counter value of the belt rotation counter has exceeded a preset moisture supply set value M2 indicating the moisture supply length of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 (step S606), and exceeds the moisture supply set value M2. Then, the carriage movement count is incremented by “1” (“+1”) (step S607), and the process returns to step S602.

  In the above process, the moisture supply set value M2 is set to a belt moving amount that advances the distance of the moisture supply width H by the moisture supply head 43g on which the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is mounted on the carriage 35. The set movement amount counter value C is the number of carriage movements necessary for supplying moisture to the entire surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. For example, the length of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 in the movement direction is 60 cm. When the moisture supply width H by the moisture supply head 43g is 3 cm, the moisture is supplied to the entire surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 by moving the carriage 35 in the width direction of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 for calculation. Therefore, “20” is set as the value of the set movement amount counter value C.

  When returning to step S602, the CPU 7 checks whether the carriage movement counter is less than or equal to the set movement amount counter value C (step S602), and if it is less than or equal to the set movement amount counter value C, similarly to the above, 35 is moved to supply moisture to the electrostatic attraction belt 33 and the carriage movement counter is incremented, and then the process returns to step S602 (steps S603 to S607).

  When the count value of the carriage movement counter exceeds the set movement amount counter value C in step S602, the CPU 7 ends the moisture supply process.

  When moisture is supplied to the entire surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 by the moisture supply process, the surface of the photocatalyst on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is activated by the light irradiation process and becomes super hydrophilic. Therefore, it spreads uniformly over the entire surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 and has a strong connection with the photocatalyst layer formed on the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33. The dirt such as ink adhering to the surface and adhering to the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is lifted.

  Then, the inkjet printer 1 executes the belt cleaning process of FIG. 10 as shown in FIG. That is, the CPU 7 first clears the belt rotation counter (step S701), and then starts counting up the belt rotation counter (step S702). Next, the CPU 7 drives the cleaning member moving unit to bring the cleaning member 44 a into contact with the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 and starts removing dirt such as ink floating on the surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. (Step S703). At this time, since the electrostatic attraction belt 33 continues to be rotated from the time when the supply of moisture is started in the moisture supply process, the electrostatic attraction belt 33 becomes dirty from the time when the cleaning member 44a comes into contact with the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33. Is being removed.

  Next, the CPU 7 brings the cleaning member 44a into contact with the electrostatic attraction belt 33 and adheres to the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 until the belt rotation counter exceeds the preset cleaning counter value N. If the belt rotation counter exceeds the set cleaning counter value N, the cleaning member 44a is moved away from the electrostatic attraction belt 33 and the cleaning process is terminated (step S705). The set cleaning counter value N is a counter value for counting the rotational movement amount of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 necessary for cleaning the entire surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 by the cleaning member 44a, and at least the electrostatic attraction belt 33. Is set to a counter value that counts the amount of rotational movement that makes one rotation.

  At the time of this cleaning, since dirt such as ink adhering to the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is lifted from the surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33, it is easy without applying a large frictional force from the cleaning member 44a. In addition, the electrostatic attraction belt 33 can be cleaned by properly removing dirt. In addition, the cleaning unit 44 is in close contact with the periphery of the cleaning member 44a, and the ink removed from the electrostatic attraction belt 33 attached to the cleaning member 44a when the cleaning member 44a is moved by the cleaning member moving unit. Remove dirt such as dirt. Therefore, the cleaning member 44a can always be in a clean state, and the electrostatic attraction belt 33 can be appropriately cleaned.

  As described above, the cleaning mechanism unit 4 of the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment has the photocatalyst layer formed on the surface of the insulating layer, and electrostatically adsorbs the recording medium P to which ink is sprayed from the ink jet head, thereby recording the recording medium. The electrostatic adsorption belt 33 that conveys the recording medium P by being moved in the conveyance direction of P moves the recording medium adsorption surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 that adsorbs the recording medium P while moving in the conveyance direction. When the dirt is detected by the dirt sensor 41 and the dirt is detected, the light irradiation unit 41 emits the active light that activates the photocatalyst layer of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 moved in the transport direction, and the active light is irradiated. After the moisture is applied from the moisture application unit 43 to the recording medium adsorption surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, the cleaning unit 44 cleans the recording medium adsorption surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33.

  Therefore, dirt such as ink adhering to the electrostatic attraction belt 33 can be cleaned by weakening the adhesion to the electrostatic attraction belt 33, and it can be cleaned with a strong force that damages the recording medium attraction surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33. Without removing the dirt from the electrostatic attraction belt 33 reliably and easily, the recording medium attraction surface of the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is cleaned cleanly without weakening the electrostatic attraction force of the electrostatic attraction belt 33. be able to. That is, the photocatalyst coated on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is activated by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, and moisture applied thereafter is spread over one surface of the recording medium adsorption surface of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, and dirt and the recording medium are adsorbed. The dirt is removed in a state in which the dirt is lifted from the recording medium adsorption surface. Therefore, the dirt can be effectively and cleanly removed without damaging the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 and weakening the electrostatic adsorption force.

  Further, in the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the cleaning mechanism unit 4 electrostatically attracts the dirt detection unit 41 while moving the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 over a predetermined length in the transport direction under the control of the CPU 6. When the dirt on the recording medium adsorption surface of the belt 33 is detected and the dirt is detected, the light irradiation unit 42 is irradiated with active light on the recording medium adsorption surface, and moisture is applied to the recording medium adsorption surface irradiated with the active light. After moisture is imparted to the portion 43, the cleaning portion 44 is caused to clean the recording medium suction surface to which the moisture has been imparted.

  Therefore, the photocatalyst coated on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 is activated by ultraviolet irradiation from the light irradiation unit 42, and thereafter, moisture is applied from the water application unit 43, and the water is supplied to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. 33 is spread over the entire surface of the recording medium adsorption surface 33 and enters between the dirt and the recording medium adsorption surface, and the dirt can be removed by the cleaning unit 43 in a state where the dirt is lifted from the recording medium adsorption surface. The dirt can be effectively and cleanly removed without damaging the electrostatic attraction belt 33 and weakening the electrostatic attraction force.

  Further, in the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 of the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the insulating layer is formed to a thickness based on the constituent material of the insulating layer, the applied voltage, and the thickness of the photocatalyst layer.

  Therefore, the recording medium P can be electrostatically adsorbed appropriately and reliably, and the recording medium P can be always stably conveyed.

  Further, in the cleaning mechanism unit 4 of the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the dirt detection unit 41 has a plurality of dirt sensors 41a to 41e in a plurality of detection areas in the main scanning direction of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, so Dirt is detected.

  Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately detect the dirt on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 and appropriately perform the dirt removal process, and it is possible to always improve the transportability of the recording medium P.

  Further, in the cleaning mechanism unit 4 of the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, the contamination sensor 41p of the contamination detection unit 41 is mounted on the carriage (running body) 35 on which the ink head is mounted, and the carriage 35 moves in the main scanning direction. , The contamination on the recording medium suction surface may be detected over a predetermined width in the main scanning direction of the electrostatic suction belt 33.

  In this way, the dirt on the electrostatic attraction belt 33 can be detected by one dirt detection sensor 41p, and the dirt on the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is detected at a low cost, thereby improving the transportability of the recording medium P at a low cost. Can be made.

  Further, in the cleaning mechanism unit 4 of the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the water application unit 43 has a predetermined length in the main scanning direction of the water storage unit 43b in which the water is stored and the electrostatic adsorption belt 33. A moisture applying member 43c that contains the water of the portion 43b and applies moisture to the electrostatic chucking belt 33, and a moisture applying member moving unit that moves the moisture applying member 43c to the electrostatic chucking belt 33 so as to be detachable. ing.

  Therefore, with a simple configuration, moisture can be appropriately applied to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33, and dirt on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 can be appropriately floated and removed.

  Further, in the cleaning mechanism unit 4 of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the water application unit 43 records the water in the water storage unit, which is stored in the carriage 35, and the water in the water storage unit. A water ejection head 43g ejecting on the medium adsorption surface.

  Accordingly, with a simple configuration, moisture can be appropriately applied to the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 while moving the carriage 35, and dirt on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 can be appropriately lifted and removed. be able to.

  In addition, the cleaning mechanism unit 4 of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is attached to the Peltier element 43e and the Peltier element 43e so as to generate water generated by energization of the Peltier element 43e. The water replenishment function part 43d which has the cooling fin 43f replenished to is provided.

  Therefore, the water replenishment work to the water storage part 43b can be omitted, workability and usability can be improved, and the electrostatic attraction belt 33 is not cleaned due to the absence of water in the water storage part 43b. Appropriateness can be eliminated and cleaning performance can be improved.

  Furthermore, the cleaning mechanism unit 4 of the inkjet printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a cleaning member 44 having a predetermined flexibility and non-moisture absorption, and a length of a cleaning member having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction of the electrostatic attraction belt 33. 44a and a cleaning member moving unit that moves the cleaning member 44a to the electrostatic attraction belt 33 so as to be detachable.

  Therefore, it is possible to clean the electrostatic attraction belt 33 with a simple configuration without damaging the electrostatic attraction belt 33.

  Further, the cleaning mechanism unit 4 of the ink jet printer 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the cleaning unit 44 cleans the cleaning member 44a in accordance with the operation of moving the cleaning member 44a to and away from the electrostatic attraction belt 33 by the cleaning member moving unit. A member cleaning member 44b is provided.

  Therefore, the electrostatic attraction belt 33 can be cleaned with the always clean cleaning member 44a, and the electrostatic attraction belt 33 can be cleaned even more cleanly.

  Further, in the inkjet printer 1 of this embodiment, when the CPU 6 detects the dirt on the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 immediately after the cleaning of the electrostatic adsorption belt 33 by the cleaning part 44, the static electricity is displayed on the display of the operation display unit. A warning notification that the electroadsorption belt 33 is dirty and a response process such as a request for cleaning to a service person is necessary, or a warning notification to a predetermined host device is transmitted via the I / F 9. Anomaly notification is performed by such methods.

  Accordingly, it is possible to promptly cope with an abnormality of the ink jet printer 1, in particular, an abnormality of the electrostatic attraction belt 33, maintain the ink jet printer 1 by appropriately conveying the recording medium P by the electrostatic attraction belt 33. Management and usability can be improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used in an electrostatic adsorption member cleaning device and an electrostatic adsorption member cleaning method for cleanly cleaning an electrostatic adsorption member such as an electrostatic adsorption belt that electrostatically adsorbs and conveys a recording medium such as paper. it can.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The top view of the state which provided the some dirt sensor in the width direction of the electrostatic adsorption belt. The top view of the state which attached the dirt sensor to the carriage. The detailed block diagram of a light irradiation part. The detailed block diagram of a moisture provision part. The detailed block diagram of the moisture provision part which has a water supply function part. The block diagram of the moisture provision part with which the moisture supply head is mounted in the carriage. The detailed block diagram of a cleaning part. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an inkjet printer. The flowchart which shows a belt cleaning basic control process. The flowchart which shows the dirt detection process in case the some dirt sensor is provided. 7 is a flowchart showing a dirt detection process when a dirt sensor is mounted on a carriage. The flowchart which shows a light irradiation process. The flowchart which shows a moisture supply process. 6 is a flowchart showing a moisture supply process using a moisture supply head mounted on a carriage. The flowchart which shows a belt cleaning process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer 2 Paper feed mechanism part 3 Image formation part 4 Cleaning mechanism part 5 Paper discharge mechanism part 6 CPU
7 ROM
8 RAM
9 I / F
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Bus 21 Paper feed tray 22 Conveyance roller 31, 32 Roller 33 Electrostatic adsorption belt 34 Guide shaft 35 Carriage 41 Dirt detection part 41a-41e, 41p Dirt sensor 42 Light irradiation part 42a Light source 42b Reflector plate 43 Moisture provision part 43a Water 43b Water storage part 43c Water supply member 43d Water supply function part 43e Peltier element 43f Fin 43g Water supply head 44 Cleaning part 51 Paper discharge roller P Recording medium

Claims (9)

  A photocatalyst layer is formed on the surface of the insulating layer with a predetermined length in the recording medium conveyance direction and a predetermined width in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction, and a predetermined voltage is applied. An electrostatic adsorption member that electrostatically adsorbs the recording medium using the surface on which the photocatalyst layer is formed as a recording medium adsorption surface; and the electrostatic adsorption member that moves in the conveyance direction of the recording medium An adsorption member driving unit that conveys the electrostatically adsorbed recording medium, a light irradiation unit that irradiates active light that activates the photocatalyst layer, and an electrostatic adsorption member that is irradiated with active light by the light irradiation unit. An electrostatic adsorbing member cleaning comprising: a moisture applying unit that applies moisture to the recording medium adsorption surface; and a cleaning unit that cleans the recording medium adsorption surface to which moisture has been applied by the moisture applying unit. apparatus.   The electrostatic adsorbing member cleaning device includes a dirt detecting unit that detects dirt on the recording medium adsorbing surface of the electrostatic adsorbing member, and the dirt detecting unit moves the electrostatic adsorbing member while moving the electrostatic adsorbing member to the recording medium adsorbing surface. When the dirt is detected by detecting the dirt, the light irradiating means irradiates the electrostatic adsorption member with the active light, and the recording medium adsorption of the electrostatic adsorption member irradiated with the active light by the light irradiating means. 2. The electrostatic attraction member cleaning according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that causes the cleaning unit to clean the recording medium suction surface after water is applied to the surface by the water application unit. 3. apparatus.   2. The electrostatic adsorption member according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is formed to a thickness based on a constituent material of the insulating layer, the applied voltage, and a thickness of the photocatalyst layer. 2. The electrostatic attraction member cleaning apparatus according to 2.   The water applying means has a predetermined length in the main scanning direction of the water storage portion where water is stored and the electrostatic adsorption member, contains water from the water storage portion, and applies water to the electrostatic adsorption member 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a moisture imparting member that performs movement, and a moisture imparting member moving mechanism that moves the moisture imparting member to the electrostatic adsorption member in a detachable manner. The electrostatic attraction member cleaning apparatus of description.   The moisture applying unit is mounted on a water storage unit that stores water and a traveling body that moves in a main scanning direction, and a water ejection head that ejects water in the water storage unit onto a recording medium adsorption surface of the electrostatic adsorption member. The electrostatic attraction member cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic attraction member cleaning device is provided.   The electrostatic attraction member cleaning device includes a Peltier element and a cooling fin that is attached in contact with the Peltier element and replenishes water generated by energization of the Peltier element to the water reservoir of the moisture applying unit. 6. The electrostatic attraction member cleaning device according to claim 4, further comprising water supply means.   The cleaning means has predetermined flexibility and non-moisture absorption, and has a cleaning member having a length over a predetermined region in the main scanning direction of the electrostatic adsorption member, and the cleaning member can be attached to and detached from the electrostatic adsorption member. The electrostatic attraction member cleaning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a cleaning member moving mechanism section that moves the cleaning member moving mechanism.   The said cleaning means is provided with the cleaning member cleaning member which cleans this cleaning member with the separation-contact operation | movement to the said electrostatic attraction member of the said cleaning member by the said cleaning member moving mechanism part. 8. The electrostatic attraction member cleaning device according to 7.   A photocatalyst layer is formed on the surface of the insulating layer having a predetermined length in the transport direction of the recording medium and a predetermined width in the main scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and electrostatically adsorbing the recording medium An electrostatic adsorption member cleaning method for cleaning an electrostatic adsorption member moved in a conveyance direction, the conveyance member moving processing step for moving the electrostatic adsorption member in the conveyance direction, and the static movement in the conveyance direction. A light irradiation process step of irradiating active light that activates the photocatalyst layer of the electroadsorption member, and moisture application that applies moisture to the electrostatic adsorption member that is irradiated with the active light and moved in the transport direction by the light irradiation process step An electrostatic adsorption member cleaning method comprising: a treatment step; and a cleaning treatment step for cleaning the electrostatic adsorption member which is given moisture by the moisture application treatment step and is moved in the transport direction. .

Images