JP2010280119A - Ink-jet recording device and ink-jet recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink-jet recording device and an ink-jet recording method that can reduce recorded image faults. <P>SOLUTION: The ink-jet recording device 1 includes air control windows 770, detour spaces 750 and shutters 700 at the ends of a movable range of a carriage 3. The air control windows 770 provided at both ends of the moving range of the carriage 3 are opened/closed using the shutters 700 according to the moving direction and acceleration/deceleration of the carriage 3 to control the flow of air between a recording head 4 and a recording medium 13. The difference between impact positions of a main drop and a satellite at the center part and the end of a recording area can thereby be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method. In particular, the present invention relates to a serial type ink jet recording apparatus that performs reciprocal scanning on an ink jet recording head to perform reciprocal recording on a recording medium such as recording paper.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ink jet recording apparatus in which a recording head scans a recording medium for recording is widely used as an output device for an image created by a computer or an image captured by an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera. At present, as with silver halide photography, a compact inkjet recording apparatus dedicated to photography that can record an image on the entire surface of the recording medium without providing a margin at the end of the recording medium has been realized.

  In such a compact ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a recording apparatus), the inside of the recording apparatus is considerably sealed because the space is wasted and the recording area is quite high. The recording apparatus is extremely narrower than the recording apparatus. Further, in order to reduce the size of the compact recording apparatus, the recording head mounted on the carriage and moving is configured to perform recording even during acceleration / deceleration. In a conventional recording apparatus, in order to obtain high image quality, ink ejection is started when the carriage is in a constant speed motion state. However, recently, recording is performed even during acceleration or deceleration. This requires a non-printing area having a width of about 10 to 30 mm during acceleration / deceleration, and this dimension directly affects the width of the recording apparatus. Therefore, in order to reduce the size of the recording apparatus as much as possible, the recording apparatus is miniaturized by performing recording even during acceleration / deceleration. However, this is also a cause of image deterioration.

  By the way, when recording with an ink jet recording apparatus, in addition to the main ink droplets ejected from the ink ejection openings and landed on the recording medium, small ink droplets separated from the main droplets land on the paper surface. A so-called satellite which is a small dot is formed. Density unevenness occurs in the recording result due to the influence of this satellite landed on the recording medium. Of course, if ink is ejected inside the recording apparatus having a high degree of sealing, it can be easily imagined that the position of landing on the recording medium is different from the main droplet due to the relationship between air resistance and momentum.

  As a conventional technique for collecting ink mist in a recording apparatus, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which an open window is provided in a recording apparatus.

JP 2005-145021 A

  When the recording head performs reciprocating scanning in a highly sealed space, a pressure difference occurs in the scanning direction due to the piston effect of the carriage, which is a component that holds and moves the recording head, and the pressure difference between the recording head and the recording medium. A so-called air flow in the housing is generated. In particular, since the acceleration is accompanied during the acceleration / deceleration of the carriage, the flow of the airflow further increases. During recording, acceleration / deceleration accompanies both ends of the recording area, which is the return point of the carriage, the landing positions of the main droplet and satellite at both ends of the recording area, and the main droplet and satellite at the center of the recording area. There is a difference in the landing state from the landing position. For this reason, recording density unevenness occurs in the recording result, and a recording image defect occurs. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of reducing a recorded image defect.

  Therefore, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a moving unit that can be moved by mounting a recording head, a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium in a direction that intersects the moving direction of the moving unit, and a housing. In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the recording head to the recording medium along with the operation of the moving means and the transport means inside a housing, the end of a range in which the moving means can move The part is provided with an air control window and a bypass space, and the air control window has a moving direction of the moving means and a recording space between the recording space where the moving means is provided and the bypass space. It is opened and closed according to acceleration / deceleration to control the air flow between the recording head and the recording medium.

  The ink jet recording method of the present invention includes a moving step of moving the recording head, and a transporting step of transporting the recording medium in a direction crossing the moving direction of the recording head in the moving step, from the recording head. An air control window provided at an end of a movable range of the recording head in the moving step in an ink jet recording method comprising: a recording step of performing recording by discharging ink to the recording medium Is opened / closed according to the moving direction and acceleration / deceleration of the recording head, so that the air between the recording space in which the recording head moves, the bypass space partitioned by the air control window, and the recording space. The flow is enabled, and the flow of air between the recording head and the recording medium is controlled.

  According to the present invention, the ink jet recording apparatus includes the air control window and the bypass space at the end of the range in which the moving means can move. The air control window is opened and closed between the recording space where the moving means is provided and the bypass space according to the moving direction and acceleration / deceleration of the moving means. Control air flow. As a result, an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of reducing recording image defects can be realized.

It is the perspective view which showed the inkjet recording device in this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1 when viewed from the front. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the flow of the air in the inkjet recording device of the past and this embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed the shutter of 1st Embodiment. It is the graph which showed the speed of the inflow air between the papers in the conventional recording device. It is the graph which showed the speed of the inflow air between the paper in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a recording process of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is the cross-sectional schematic which showed the recording device in 2nd Embodiment. It is the cross-sectional schematic which showed the recording device in 3rd Embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed the shutter of 3rd Embodiment. It is the cross-sectional schematic which showed the recording device in 4th Embodiment. It is the perspective view which showed the shutter of 4th Embodiment. It is the cross-sectional schematic which showed the recording device in 5th Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a recording apparatus) 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording apparatus of FIG. . A recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a carriage driving motor 2 and a recording head 4, and a carriage 3 that reciprocates along a guide shaft 5 in the main scanning direction (the arrow α direction in FIG. 2). A moving mechanism 6 that reciprocates the carriage 3 by the drive motor 2 is provided. Further, the recording apparatus 1 is driven by a platen 7 in which a receiving port 8 for performing preliminary discharge is formed, a recovery apparatus 10 for performing discharge recovery processing and cleaning of the recording head 4, a moving mechanism 6 and other operating mechanisms. The motor 2 is preferably used for driving. The recording medium 13 is transported in a direction crossing the main scanning direction by the paper feed mechanism 11, sent onto the platen 7, and predetermined recording is performed on the recording medium 13 by the recording head 4 on the platen 7. The recording head 4 mounted on the carriage 3 is separated or integrated with the ink tank 12 that stores ink, and is detachably held on the carriage 3. The carriage 3 is connected to a timing belt 14 that is a part of the moving mechanism 6 that transmits the driving force of the driving motor 2, and is slidable in the direction of arrow α along the guide shaft 5. The carriage 3 is reciprocated in the direction of the arrow α by the driving force of the drive motor 2, and at the same time, a recording signal is given to the recording head 4 and ink is ejected from the recording head 4. As a result, good recording is performed on the recording medium 13 conveyed onto the platen 7.

  In the scanning range in which the carriage 3 on which the recording head 4 is mounted moves reciprocally, the position outside the recording medium 13 on the platen 7 during the recording operation has a planar configuration, and the height of the surface is above the platen 7. The height is substantially the same as the recording medium 13 that is passing. This position is also a preliminary discharge position, and a preliminary discharge receiving port 8 is provided. A waste ink absorber 21 made of urethane, polyurethane, nonwoven fabric, or other appropriate ink absorbing material is provided below the platen 7. Accordingly, at the preliminary ejection position, the ink preliminarily ejected from the ink ejection port surface 15 of the recording head 4 into the receiving port 8 is suitably absorbed by the waste ink absorber 21 installed under the platen 7, and is collected or reused. It has become so.

  In the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, an appropriate recovery device 10 for the recording head 4 is provided at the end within the movement range of the carriage 3. The recovery device 10 includes a cap member 16 for capping the ink discharge port surface 15 of the recording head 4 and a wiper member 17 made of an elastic member such as rubber.

  3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining the flow of air in the ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 3A shows a conventional recording apparatus, and FIG. 3B shows the recording apparatus of this embodiment. FIGS. 3A and 3B both illustrate a state in which the carriage 3 is accelerating at the end of the moving range of the carriage 3 and performing a serial motion toward the center of the recording medium 13 (in the direction of arrow F). It is what I saw. Hereinafter, the flow of air in the recording apparatus in the conventional recording apparatus will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the carriage 3 starts accelerating movement, the air 50 (see FIG. 2) near the center of the recording apparatus passes through the gap 51 (including the inter-paper gap 710) and the gap 52. 3 moves backward in the direction of travel. The air 50 suddenly flows into the gaps 51 and 52, and the inflow speed is often about 2 to 4 m / sec, which is a momentarily high value during acceleration or deceleration. The instantaneous time unit is about 0.002 to 0.02 seconds, but since the carriage speed is about 300 to 900 mm / sec, the moving distance of the carriage is 0.6 to 18 mm. Is the length of Since a numerical value of 50 μm to 80 μm is a minimum recognition dimension unit by visual observation of ordinary people, the above numerical value is easily an image variation, and is a numerical value range that can be recognized as an image or more. In other words, the image quality affected by a time difference of about 2/1000 seconds is a problem. Usually, since the ejection cycle of the ink jet recording apparatus is 5 to 20 KHz, 10 to 40 ejections are performed in 0.002 seconds. If a plurality of colors (minimum 3 colors) are taken into consideration, 30 to 120 impacts are generated, and if satellites are also considered, 60 to 240 ink droplets are formed on the recording medium. You ’re landing.

  The recording apparatus of the present embodiment includes a pair of air control windows 770 at both ends of the movement range of the carriage 3 as shown in FIGS. Each air control window 770 is provided with a shutter 700 that can open and close the air control window 770 so that the recording space provided with the carriage 3 and the space 750 can be partitioned. FIG. 3B shows a state where the shutter 700 is open. When the air control window 770 is thus opened, air can flow between the recording space and the space 750. In this way, when the air control window 770 is open and the carriage 3 is accelerated and moved in the direction of arrow F (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as the + direction), a large amount of air flows from the space 750 at the rear of the air control window 770. leak. As a result, the flow velocity of air in the gaps 51 and 52 is reduced. When the air control window 770 is closed, the shutter 700 is configured to close by contacting with the chassis 71 and 71 ′ of the ink jet recording apparatus. In FIG. 3 (b), the shutter 700 extends upward and is in sliding contact with the chassis 71 ′ to shield (partition) the space between the recording space in which the carriage 3 is provided and the space 750. It has a configuration. The part to be shielded may be a part of the casing 100 instead of the chassis 71, 71 ′.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the shutter 700 of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the shutter 700 is configured to be movable up and down by a window driving mechanism 721, and the air control window 770 is opened and closed by such vertical movement of the shutter 700.

  By the way, during the constant velocity recording operation, the air control window 770 is closed by the shutter 700, and the air flow in the inter-sheet space 710 formed between the carriage 3 passing over the platen 7 and the recording medium 13. Is maintained to increase. The reason why it is preferable to block the air control window 770 during the constant velocity recording operation to increase the inflow air velocity to the inter-sheet space 710 is that the flow of air is caused by the droplets discharged from the recording head 4. Disturbed and partly swirling vortexes are generated, and a gray-scale pseudo image with a so-called wind pattern is generated. However, it is known that such a wind pattern does not occur when there is a large amount of air flowing between the sheets 710 and the inflow airflow is high. For this reason, during the constant velocity recording operation, the air control window 770 is shielded to increase the flow velocity of the air flowing into the inter-sheet space 710, thereby suppressing the occurrence of wind ripples.

  In a general recording apparatus (low sealing degree), when the carriage 3 starts to decelerate because of the reciprocating serial motion, the speed of the air flowing into the inter-sheet space 710 starts to decrease. However, in the case of a configuration that is almost hermetically sealed as in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment, on the contrary, a large amount of air that loses the escape space due to the carriage 3 compressing the air ahead in the movement direction flows into the sheet space 710. start. Therefore, the inflow speed of air in the inter-sheet space 710 increases in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the carriage 3 (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as “−” direction). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the air control window 770 in front of the carriage 3 in the moving direction is opened while the carriage 3 is moving at a reduced speed. In this case, the opening amount of the shutter 700 is controlled so that the air inflow speed (in the minus direction) to the sheet gap 710 during the deceleration movement is 0.5 to 2.0 m / sec. In this case, it is preferable that the air control window 770 on the rear side in the moving direction of the carriage 3 is closed and the front air control window 770 is opened in a timely manner.

  Next, the carriage 3 finishes decelerating and stops. At this stage, the air flow in the inter-sheet space 710 is almost stopped. However, the air behind the carriage 3 flows in the positive direction due to the characteristic of fluid, even though the carriage 3 decelerates and stops. This is because the carriage 3 stops after an extremely short time of 0.02 to 0.05 seconds, but a fluid such as air cannot be decelerated and stopped like a structural object. Thereafter, the carriage 3 reverses and starts acceleration in the reverse direction (− direction). The acceleration time is about 0.02 to 0.05 seconds (varies depending on the constant velocity during recording of various recording devices), but as described above, the paper moves due to the movement of air with a positive momentum. Air flows into the space 710 more strongly.

  Next, while the carriage 3 is accelerating in the negative direction, the air in the space behind the carriage 3 is expanded and the atmospheric pressure is lowered in the sealed state as in the present embodiment. For this reason, the air flows into the inter-paper space 710 increases, and the flow velocity of air in the inter-paper space 710 increases. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when accelerating in the direction of the carriage 3, the air control window 770 behind the carriage 3 is appropriately opened so that the air flow rate in the sheet interval 710 is 0.5 to 2.0 m / sec. The air control window 770 in front of the carriage 3 is also opened in a timely manner so that the air flow rate in the gap 710 is 0.5 to 2.0 m / sec. In this case, the opening degree of the front air control window 770 is less than that of the rear air control window 770.

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing a result of simulating the velocity vector of the inflowing air between the sheets 710 in the conventional recording apparatus having no air control window, and FIG. 6 is a velocity vector of the inflowing air between the sheets 710 in the present embodiment. It is the graph which showed the result of having calculated. The velocity of the inflow air in FIGS. 5 and 6 indicates the absolute value of the air flow velocity at the center position between the surface (commonly referred to as the face surface) of the recording head 310 and the recording medium 13 in the sheet interval 710. Yes. The area AC in FIG. 5 indicates the acceleration or deceleration area of the carriage 3, and the area DO in FIG. 6 indicates the time area in which the opening / closing control window 770 is open. As a simulation method, based on the three-dimensional CAD diagram of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1, fluid calculation for serially moving the carriage 3 using the finite element method was performed. This fluid calculation software is similar to commercially available general-purpose fluid calculation software, and its calculation accuracy is high, and a flow velocity almost similar to an actual phenomenon can be calculated.

  Comparing the flow rate at the sheet interval 710 in the recording apparatus provided with the air control window 770 of the present embodiment and the flow rate at the sheet interval 710 in the conventional recording apparatus, the flow rate in this embodiment, that is, FIG. It can be seen that the change is low. This is because the control of the air control window 700 works effectively. As a result, the inflow air velocity of the inter-paper space 710 in FIG. 6 changes between approximately 0.5 to 2.0 m / sec. It has been found from past cases that when the inflow air velocity is 0.5 m / sec or less, an air current twist occurs and a wind ripple phenomenon occurs. On the contrary, if the inflow air velocity instantaneously exceeds 2.5 m / sec, for example, at 2.5 m / sec, the satellites of the ink jet droplets flow during the flight due to the influence of the inflow air between the sheets 710. As a result, a phenomenon of deviation from a predetermined landing position occurs. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to form a good image with borderless recording.

  Therefore, by controlling the inflow air to be 2.0 m / sec or less using the air control window 770 as in the present embodiment, this problem can be solved even in an actual recording apparatus (in numerical experiments, 2 0.03 m / sec, but 2.0 m / sec).

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment. The CPU 600 executes control of each unit and data processing via the main bus line 605. That is, the CPU 600 is configured to perform control through each unit described below including recording head drive control, carriage drive control and data processing, and control of the opening control window 770 according to a program stored in the ROM 601. The RAM 602 is used as a work area for data processing by the CPU 600, and other memory includes a hard disk. The image input unit 603 has an interface with a host device (not shown), and temporarily holds an image input from the host device. The image signal processing unit 604 performs data processing in addition to color conversion and binarization. The operation unit 606 includes keys and the like, thereby enabling control input by the operator. A recovery system control circuit 607 controls a recovery operation such as preliminary ejection in accordance with a recovery processing program stored in the RAM 602, and a recovery system motor 608 has a recording head 613 and a cleaning blade 609, a cap 610, and a suction pump 611 facing and separating from the recording head 613. Drive. The recording head drive control circuit 615 controls the drive of the ink ejection electrothermal converter of the recording head 613 and normally causes the recording head 613 to perform preliminary ejection and ink ejection for recording. Further, the carriage drive control circuit 616 and the paper feed control circuit 617 similarly control the movement of the carriage 3 and the paper feed, respectively, according to the program. The air control window opening / closing operation mechanism control circuit 720 is also controlled by the program, so that the air control window 770 is automatically and optimally opened and closed. The window drive mechanism 721 of the air control window 770 uses opening and closing by a motor, but may be an electromagnetic actuator, an electromagnetic linear slider, or a pneumatic or hydraulic operation mechanism. Any object that can realize the acceleration degree of the carriage 3 and the opening degree that matches the position of the carriage 3 may be used. Preferably, a mechanism capable of actively and freely controlling the opening / closing position, opening speed, and the like is desirable, and a functional configuration in which motor control, an electromagnetic actuating method, and the like are combined may be used. In addition, a heat retention heater is provided on the substrate on which the electrothermal transducer for ink ejection of the recording head 613 is provided, and the ink temperature in the recording head can be adjusted by heating to a desired set temperature. The thermistor 612 is also provided on the substrate in the same manner, and is used for measuring a substantial ink temperature inside the recording head. Similarly, the thermistor 612 may be provided externally instead of on the substrate, or may be in the vicinity of the periphery of the recording head.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing each step in the recording process of the recording apparatus of the present embodiment. When the recording process is started, the recording medium is conveyed by the paper feed control circuit in step S001. When the predetermined transport amount is reached, the CPU 600 instructs the carriage control circuit 610 to execute a start processing command (a processing command for moving according to acceleration / deceleration / constant velocity based on carriage time / position information stored in the ROM and image information). A recording processing instruction to a recording element based on the above. As a result, the carriage 3 is activated in step S002. In step S002, simultaneously with the carriage 3, the CPU 600 instructs the opening / closing control window driving circuit 720 to start the window driving mechanism 721 (processing instruction according to the opening amount based on the time / position information of the opening / closing control window recorded in the ROM). To emit. This activates the shutter 700 of the air control window 770. Thereby, the opening amount of the air control window 770 is maintained in a timely and appropriate amount according to the position of the carriage 3 and the acceleration / deceleration / movement speed. The opening amount of the air control window 770 is numerically stored in the ROM 602 and stored as a program. However, if it is possible to mount a sensor or the like that can measure the velocity of the inflow air flow between the papers 710, the measurement data is opened in a timely manner. The amount may be adjusted. After that, in step S003, recording is performed on the recording medium by ejecting ink from the recording head based on the image information. The air control window 770 is appropriately controlled continuously during the recording. Thereafter, in step S004, it is confirmed whether or not all recording is completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S001. If completed, the recording medium is discharged in step S005, and the recording process ends.

  In this manner, the air control windows provided at both ends of the carriage movement range are opened and closed in accordance with the movement direction and acceleration / deceleration of the carriage 3. As a result, an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of reducing recording image defects can be realized.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the characteristic configuration will be described below.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording apparatus) 1 in the present embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the recording apparatus of the present embodiment is configured such that the shutter 800 in the air control window 770 is disposed at the top of the recording apparatus and is shielded from the top to the bottom. The feature in this case is advantageous in that the sheet interval 710 between the carriage 3 and the recording medium 13 and the open portion of the air control window 770 can be made as close as possible. In the case of the first embodiment (FIG. 2), the tip of the shutter 700 is located near the upper side of the carriage 3 when the air control window 770 is completely sealed. Therefore, the opening position when the shutter 700 is slightly opened is also near the upper side of the carriage 3, and is separated from the sheet space 710 on the lower side of the carriage 3. Therefore, it is relatively difficult to be affected by the slight opening. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the shutter 800 is configured to close the air control window 770 by moving from the upper part to the lower part of the recording apparatus, and the front end of the shutter 800 completely opens the air control window 770. When sealing, it is located at almost the same height (horizontal position) as the sheet spacing 710. Therefore, when slightly opening, the opening portion can be provided at a position substantially the same height as the sheet interval 710, which is effective for controlling the inflow air flow between sheets. Actually, it is the moment of complete sealing that the inflow air velocity between the papers changes steeply. Therefore, for this control response, the control method of the open control window 770 from top to bottom is preferable.

  As described above, the air control windows provided at both ends of the carriage movement range are opened and closed by the sliding operation of the shutter provided at the upper part of the air control window in accordance with the moving direction and acceleration / deceleration of the carriage 3. As a result, an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of reducing recording image defects can be realized.

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the characteristic configuration will be described below.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording apparatus) 1 in the present embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the recording apparatus of the present embodiment has a mechanism in which the shutter 900 in the air control window 770 opens and closes from the back of the recording apparatus to the front (vertical direction in FIG. 9).

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the shutter 900 of the present embodiment. The shutter 900 is configured to be movable back and forth (front and back) by a window driving mechanism 721 as shown in the figure, and the air control window 770 can be opened and closed by this operation. The control advantage in this case is that the weight of the opening / closing control window 900 is not so much affected. Therefore, the opening / closing control with a motor having a low driving force in the opening / closing control is easy, and is effective when the power capacity is small.

  As described above, the air control windows provided at both ends of the carriage movement range are adjusted in accordance with the moving direction and acceleration / deceleration of the carriage 3, and the shutters provided at the side portions of the air control window are used to convey the recording medium during recording. Open and close by sliding in the direction including the direction. As a result, an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of reducing recording image defects can be realized.

(Fourth embodiment)
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the characteristic configuration will be described below.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording apparatus) 1 in the present embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the recording apparatus of this embodiment is configured such that the shutter 1000 in the air control window 770 can open and close the air control window 770 by rotating.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the shutter 1000 of the present embodiment. The shutter 1000 is composed of three panels as shown in the figure, and the air control window 770 can be opened and closed by rotating each panel. The advantage of this method is that even when the space where the shutter 1000 is provided is small, it is possible to form an open portion with a large area by rotating each panel.

  In the present embodiment, the shutter 1000 is configured by three panels, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the shutter 1000 can be configured by any number.

  As described above, the air control windows provided at both ends of the carriage movement range are opened and closed by the rotation operation of the shutter in accordance with the movement direction and acceleration / deceleration of the carriage 3. As a result, an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of reducing recording image defects can be realized.

(Fifth embodiment)
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Since the basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the characteristic configuration will be described below.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also simply referred to as a recording apparatus) 1 in the present embodiment. The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment does not have an air bypass in the housing, and uses an atmospheric space outside the housing as a bypass space. That is, the air control window 770 connected to the atmospheric space is provided on the side of the housing. For this reason, shutters 1100 are provided at both ends of the casing of the recording apparatus, and the shutter 1100 is configured to open as appropriate as the carriage scans. The advantage of this method is that the lateral width of the recording apparatus can be reduced by about 10 to 50 mm. However, when the carriage 3 is accelerated or decelerated, an open space is generated on both sides of the recording apparatus, which may cause a foreign matter, large dust, insects, or the like to enter, or may pinch a finger or the like. In addition, there are concerns about the outflow of ink mist to the outside of the recording apparatus.

  Note that the shutter 1100 according to this embodiment may be opened by any of the configurations of the first to fourth embodiments.

  In this manner, the air control window connected to the atmospheric space provided on the side portion of the casing of the recording apparatus is opened and closed in accordance with the moving direction and acceleration / deceleration of the carriage 3. As a result, an ink jet recording apparatus and an ink jet recording method capable of reducing recording image defects can be realized.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 3 Carriage 4 Recording head 13 Recording medium 700 Shutter 710 Between sheets 770 Air control window

Claims (11)

A moving unit mounted with a recording head and movable; a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium in a direction crossing a moving direction of the moving unit; and a housing. In an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging ink from the recording head to the recording medium together with the operation of the conveying unit,
An air control window and a bypass space are provided at the end of the movable range of the moving means, and the air control window is formed between the recording space in which the moving means is provided and the bypass space. An ink jet recording apparatus that is opened and closed according to the moving direction and acceleration / deceleration of the moving means to control the air flow between the recording head and the recording medium.   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air control window and the bypass space are provided as a pair at both ends of a range in which the moving means can move.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air control window and the bypass space are provided inside the casing.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bypass space is provided outside the casing.   2. The air control window is opened to make the air flow between the recording head and the recording medium at a predetermined speed while the moving means is accelerating or decelerating. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4.   While the moving means is moving, the air control window is opened and closed so that the air flow rate between the recording head and the recording medium is 0.5 to 2.0 m / sec with respect to the moving means. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is controlled.   When the moving means is accelerating, the air control window provided behind the moving means in the moving direction is opened wider than the air control window provided in front of the moving means in the moving direction. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided.   While the moving means is decelerating, the air control window provided at the rear in the moving direction of the moving means is opened narrower than the air control window provided at the front in the moving direction of the moving means. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is provided.   9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air control window is opened and closed by a sliding operation.   9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air control window is opened and closed by a rotating operation. A moving step of moving the recording head; and a conveying step of conveying the recording medium in a direction crossing the moving direction of the recording head in the moving step, and ejecting ink from the recording head to the recording medium In an inkjet recording method comprising a recording step of recording by
A recording space in which the recording head moves by opening and closing an air control window provided at an end of the movable range of the recording head in the moving step according to the moving direction and acceleration / deceleration of the recording head; The air flow between the detour space partitioned by the air control window and the recording space is enabled, and the air flow between the recording head and the recording medium is controlled. Inkjet recording method.

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