JP2011121277A - Inkjet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an inkjet recording apparatus capable of realizing a high quality recording without up-sizing the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Mist is collected and discharged by a fan through a flow path formed on a delivering opening forming face. A schematic figure depicting air flows generated in respective flow paths 3f (3f<SB>1</SB>and 3f<SB>2</SB>) by driving the fan 20, is shown. The atmosphere between a reaction liquid delivering opening row 3c and a coloring material-containing ink delivering opening row 3d is sucked from respective flow paths 3f (3f<SB>1</SB>and 3f<SB>2</SB>). A reaction liquid mist generated from the reaction liquid delivering opening row at the front to a carriage moving direction and flowing backward by the inflow air flow between a delivering opening forming face 15 and a recording medium, is collected by suction in the flow paths 3f<SB>1</SB>and 3f<SB>2</SB>. By collecting the reaction liquid mist, it is possible to suppress that the reaction liquid mist flowing near the delivering opening row for a coloring material-containing ink is wound up and stuck on the delivering opening forming face 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by using a recording head having a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink, and more specifically, an ink jet having a reaction liquid that aggregates by reacting with an ink containing a color material. The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.

  The ink jet recording apparatus performs recording by ejecting ink droplets from ejection ports of a recording head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged. In recent years, it has improved recording quality and water resistance by ejecting a reaction liquid that aggregates by reacting with ink having a color material (hereinafter also simply referred to as ink) and reacting with ink having a color material on a recording medium. Inkjet recording apparatuses exist. When the reaction liquid or ink is ejected from the recording head, the self-air flow from the recording head to the recording medium generated by the ejection rebounds when hitting the recording medium, and an ascending air current from the recording medium to the recording head is generated. The mist of the reaction liquid and ink discharged by the rising air flow adheres to the discharge port forming surface provided with the discharge port of the recording head. When the adhering ink reacts with the reaction liquid, it sticks on the ejection port forming surface, which may adversely affect the subsequent ejection. This is because the aggregated ink cannot be removed even if a recovery operation is performed by a suction recovery unit that forcibly sucks ink from the recording head or a wiping unit that wipes the surface of the recording head. Therefore, it is necessary to collect the ink and the mist of the reaction liquid so as not to adhere to the discharge port forming surface. As a configuration for preventing ink from adhering to the ejection port formation surface, the configuration of Patent Document 1 is known. In Patent Document 1, a mist suction port is provided so as to surround each nozzle row that ejects ink.

JP 2005-111880 A

  However, when the technique described in Patent Document 1 is used, there is a problem that the recording head is increased in size and the main body is increased in size accordingly. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to realize an ink jet recording apparatus capable of realizing high recording quality recording without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  Therefore, the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention includes an ink discharge port array in which a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink containing a color material are arranged, and a reaction liquid discharge port in which a plurality of discharge ports for discharging a reaction liquid are arranged in a row. In an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting the ink and the reaction liquid onto a recording medium while a recording head formed on the ejection port forming surface moves, the ink ejection port array and the reaction A flow path is provided between the liquid discharge port array and the flow path is capable of sucking an atmosphere between the discharge port forming surface of the recording head and the recording medium.

  According to the present invention, the ink jet recording apparatus is provided with a flow path between the ink discharge port array and the reaction liquid discharge port array, and the flow path is formed between the discharge port forming surface of the recording head and the recording medium. The atmosphere between them can be sucked. Thereby, it is possible to realize an ink jet recording apparatus capable of realizing high recording quality recording without increasing the size of the apparatus.

1 is a plan view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a recording head mounted on a carriage according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an air current between a discharge port forming surface and a recording medium and a mist of a reaction liquid. It is sectional drawing which showed the carriage provided with the fan which discharges or attracts | sucks atmosphere. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system mounted on the recording apparatus main body. It is the schematic diagram which showed the airflow produced in each flow path by the drive of a fan. It is the typical sectional view showing the carriage which provided two fans. It is the schematic diagram which showed the airflow produced in each flow path by the drive of a fan. It is a flowchart showing the flow which determines the pulse which drives a fan motor. It is an example of a fan motor drive pulse table. It is the schematic diagram which showed the airflow produced in each flow path by the drive of a fan. It is an example of the fan motor drive pulse table in this embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the pulse determination which drives a fan motor.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a recording apparatus main body 1 includes various mechanisms including a conveyance system unit (not shown) for recording paper (hereinafter also referred to as a recording medium). The recording apparatus main body 1 and the recording apparatus main body 1 are mounted thereon. An ink jet recording apparatus is constituted by the control system. Note that the ink jet recording apparatus in the present embodiment is a serial type ink jet recording apparatus. In this serial type recording apparatus, the recording medium is intermittently conveyed in the arrow Y direction by the conveyance system unit, and the recording head 3 is moved in the direction orthogonal to the arrow Y direction (sub-scanning direction) which is the conveying direction of the recording medium. The recording operation is performed while moving in a certain arrow X direction (main scanning direction). Further, the recording apparatus main body 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which the size in the arrow X direction is increased so that recording on a relatively large recording medium (for example, A1 size) can be performed. In FIG. 1, a recording head 3 is detachably mounted on the carriage 2. The carriage 2 reciprocates along with the recording head 3 along an arrow X direction orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction. Specifically, the carriage 2 is supported so as to be movable along the guide shaft 4 arranged along the arrow X direction, and is fixed to an endless belt 5 that moves substantially parallel to the guide shaft 4. The endless belt 5 reciprocates by the driving force of the carriage motor (CR motor), thereby reciprocating the carriage 2 in the direction of the arrow X (main scanning direction).

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the recording head 3 mounted on the carriage 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2, the recording head 3 has a plurality of discharge ports 3a formed on the discharge port forming surface 3b and a plurality of liquid paths (FIG. 2) formed corresponding to the individual discharge ports 3a. And a common liquid chamber (not shown) for supplying ink to the plurality of liquid paths. 2 includes a reaction liquid discharge port array 3c provided at both ends of the front end portion and the rear end portion, a color material-containing ink discharge port array 3d provided between the reaction liquid discharge port arrays, Between the recording head and the recording medium, a flow path 3f capable of discharging or sucking the atmosphere is provided. In each recording head 3 of this embodiment, 1280 ink ejection ports 3a are arranged at a density of 1200 dpi (dots / inch) in the arrow Y direction, which is the sub-scanning direction, and the carriage 2 is a main carriage 2. Reciprocate in the direction of arrow X, which is the scanning direction. In the case where a reaction liquid is used at the time of image formation, ink containing a coloring material is discharged after the reaction liquid is discharged. Therefore, in order to form images in the forward direction and the backward direction of the carriage 2, it is necessary to provide the reaction liquid discharge port arrays 3c at both ends of the color material-containing ink discharge port array 3d. However, it is also possible to form an image by providing the reaction liquid only at one end by discharging the reaction liquid in advance. Moreover, it is also possible to provide a reaction liquid only at one end by limiting to one-way recording.

  In each liquid path provided in the recording head 3, an energy generating element that generates ejection energy for ejecting ink from the ejection port 3a is disposed. In the present embodiment, an electrothermal transducer that heats ink locally to cause film boiling and ejects ink by the pressure is used as the energy generating element. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an electromechanical conversion element can also be used. In the following description, the discharge port 3a and the liquid path are collectively referred to as a nozzle.

  Ink is supplied to the recording head 3 mounted on the carriage 2 from ink tanks containing inks containing different color materials. In the present embodiment, in addition to inks containing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color materials, five ink tanks that contain five types of ink added with reaction liquids that aggregate by reacting with each ink. (Not shown) is provided in the main body. Each ink tank provided in the main body is connected to an ink supply port of the corresponding recording head 3 by a tube (not shown) to supply ink to each recording head.

  The recovery processing device 7 performs recovery processing for maintaining the ink ejection performance from each ejection port 3 a of the recording head 3 in a good state, and is held and fixed at a predetermined position of the recording device main body 1. The recovery processing device 7 includes suction recovery mechanisms 7A and 7B, a lifting mechanism (not shown) that lifts and lowers them, a wiping recovery device 9, and an ink receiving box 8. The suction recovery mechanisms 7A and 7B perform a suction recovery process that is a form of the recovery process. Here, the suction recovery process refers to a process in which ink in a nozzle is replaced with ink in a state suitable for ejection by forcibly sucking ink from a plurality of nozzles formed in the recording head 3. Specifically, the suction recovery mechanisms 7A and 7B cover the discharge port forming surface 3b (see FIG. 2) with a cap, and generate a negative pressure in the cap by a pump (not shown) communicating with the cap. The ink is forcibly sucked from the ejection port 3a by the negative pressure. Each of the suction recovery mechanisms 7A and 7B performs a suction recovery process on each of the three nozzle row groups.

  Further, the wiping recovery device (wiping recovery means) 9 is provided at a position that can face the recording head 3 at the end position (for example, the home position of the recording head). Further, the wiping recovery mechanism 9 includes a wiping mechanism (wiping means) for wiping the discharge port forming surface 3b of the recording head using a wiping member (blade, not shown), and an operating portion of the blade 10. .

  FIG. 3 illustrates the flow of the air current and the mist of the reaction liquid between the discharge port forming surface of the recording head 3 mounted on the carriage 2 and the recording medium 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the flow of the air current and the mist of the reaction liquid when the atmosphere between the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c and the color material-containing ink discharge port array 3d of the recording head 3 is not discharged or sucked. When a reaction liquid is used at the time of image formation, since the ink having the color material is discharged after the reaction liquid is discharged, the reaction liquid discharge port array 3 c provided at the front recording head end portion with respect to the moving direction of the carriage 2. Discharge the reaction solution.

  The adverse effect that occurs when the atmosphere between the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c and the colorant-containing ink discharge port array 3d is not discharged or sucked will be described with reference to FIG.

  During recording, a self-flow 12 is generated between the discharge port forming surface 15 and the recording medium 10, and an inflow air current flows between the discharge port forming surface 15 and the recording medium 10 due to the movement of the carriage 2. 13 is produced. The reaction liquid mist generated from the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c provided at the front end of the recording head with respect to the carriage movement direction (arrow X1 direction) is caused to flow backward with respect to the carriage movement direction by the inflow airflow 13. A part of the reaction liquid mist is wound up by the self-stream 12 generated along with the ejection of ink droplets from the color material-containing ink ejection port array 3d located rearward with respect to the carriage movement direction, and is formed on the ejection port forming surface 15. Adhere to. A part of the mist of the color material-containing ink also adheres to the discharge port forming surface 15 by the self-air flow 12. Accordingly, both the mist of the reaction liquid and the mist of the color material-containing ink adhere and react in the vicinity of the color material ink discharge port array 3 d on the discharge port forming surface 15, and the agglomerates form the fixed material 14 as the discharge port forming surface 15. Adhere to. As described above, when the atmosphere between the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c and the color material-containing ink discharge port array 3d is not discharged or sucked, the fixed material 14 adheres to the color material-containing discharge port formation surface 15. There is a risk of image failure.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a carriage 2 provided with a fan 20 for discharging or sucking the atmosphere between the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c and the color material-containing ink discharge port array 3d in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment. It is sectional drawing. By sucking the atmosphere between the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c and the color material-containing ink discharge port array 3d from the flow path 3f that connects the fan 20 and the discharge port forming surface 15, the front reaction liquid with respect to the carriage movement direction is sucked. The reaction liquid mist generated from the discharge port array can be collected. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of the reaction liquid mist adhering to the discharge port forming surface 15 on the rear side with respect to the carriage movement direction, and to suppress the generation of the fixed matter 14. On the contrary, the fan 20 is rotated to discharge the airflow from the flow path 3f in the opposite direction to when the atmosphere is discharged, so that the reaction liquid mist generated from the reaction liquid discharge port array in the front of the carriage movement direction The flow in the color material ink discharge port array direction can be blocked. Therefore, by discharging the airflow from the flow path 3f, it is possible to reduce the amount of the reaction liquid mist adhering to the rear discharge port forming surface 15 with respect to the carriage movement direction, and to suppress the occurrence of the fixed matter 14.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system (control means) mounted on the recording apparatus main body 1 of the ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment. The main control unit 100 includes a CPU 101 that executes processing operations such as calculation, control, determination, and setting, and a ROM 102 that stores a control program to be executed by the CPU 101. The main control unit 100 further includes a buffer for storing binary print data representing ink ejection / non-ejection, a RAM 103 used as a work area for processing by the CPU 101, an input / output port 104, and the like.

  The input / output port 104 includes drive circuits 105, 106, and 107 such as a transport motor (LF motor) 112, a carriage motor (CR motor) 113, a recording head 3, a recovery processing device 7, and a fan motor 119 in the transport unit described above. , 109, 118 are connected. Here, the fan motor 119 is a motor that drives the fan 20 that controls the airflow in the flow path between the reaction liquid discharge port array and the ink discharge port array including the color material. Further, the input / output port 104 is connected with other sensors such as a head temperature sensor (head temperature detecting means) 114 for detecting the temperature of the recording head and an encoder sensor 110 fixed to the carriage 2. . The main control unit 100 is connected to the host computer 116 via the interface circuit 111.

  The discharge number counter 115 is a discharge number counter that counts the number of ink droplets discharged from the recording head. The ejection number counter 115 counts the number of ink ejections by counting the number of data (ejection data) representing ink ejection among the binary recording data developed in the buffer in the RAM 103 for each recording head. To do.

  The scanning area counter 117 is a counter that records the size of the area scanned by the recording head 3, and determines the size of the scanning area (the number of dots of 100%) from the binary recording data developed in the buffer in the RAM 103. Count. By removing the ejection number count by the scanning area counter 117, the recording duty in a predetermined area can be obtained.

  The main controller 100 rotates the fan 20 by modulating the pulse width for driving the fan motor 119 via the drive circuit 118 according to the ejection number count or the recording duty value obtained from the ejection number count and the scanning area count. Control the number.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an air flow generated in each flow path 3f (3f ₁ , 3f ₂ ) by driving the fan 20 in the present embodiment. Sucking the atmosphere during the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c and colorant containing ink ejection opening array 3d from each flow path _{3f (3f 1, 3f 2)} . The reaction liquid mist generated from the front reaction liquid discharge port array with respect to the carriage movement direction and flowing backward by the inflow air current between the discharge port forming surface 15 and the recording medium is collected by suction in the flow paths 3f ₁ and 3f _2. To do. By collecting the reaction liquid mist, as shown in FIG. 3, the reaction liquid mist that has flowed near the discharge port array of the ink containing the color material is prevented from being wound up and adhering to the discharge port forming surface 15. can do. Further, in the rear of the channel 3f ₂ at the time when the carriage 2 is moved from the home position HP side to the back position BP side, to collect the ink mist containing a color material flowing backward in the carriage movement direction. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ink mist containing the color material from adhering to the discharge port forming surface 15 near the rear reaction solution discharge port. FIG. 6 shows an example in which suction is performed from each flow path. However, by discharging the atmosphere from each flow path, the inflow airflow between the discharge port forming surface 15 and the recording medium can be blocked, and suction is performed. The same effect can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, two flow paths are provided on the discharge port forming surface, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of flow paths may be used.

  As described above, inkjet recording that can achieve high-quality recording without increasing the size of the apparatus by collecting and discharging the mist by the fan via the flow path formed on the discharge port forming surface. The device could 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 the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, only the characteristic configuration will be described below.

FIG. 7 shows the carriage 2 provided with two fans 20 for discharging or sucking the atmosphere between the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c and the color material-containing ink discharge port array 3d in the recording apparatus of the present embodiment. It is typical sectional drawing. In the present embodiment, a fan 20A corresponding to the flow path 3f ₁ and a fan 20B corresponding to the flow path 3f ₂ are provided, and can be controlled independently. When using the reaction liquid during image formation, the ink containing the coloring material is discharged after the reaction liquid is discharged, so the reaction liquid is discharged from the reaction liquid discharge port array provided at the front recording head end with respect to the carriage movement direction. Is discharged. Therefore, it is easily conceivable to switch the airflow control between the flow path positioned in the front and the flow path positioned in the rear of the carriage moving direction in the reciprocating motion. In that case, the configuration of the present embodiment in which the airflow can be independently controlled by the _two flow paths 3f ₁ and 3f ₂ is effective.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating airflow generated in each flow path 3f by driving the fans 20A and 20B in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the control of the fans 20A and 20B is switched depending on the movement direction of the carriage 2, and between the reaction liquid discharge port array 3c and the color material-containing ink discharge port array 3d from the flow path in front of the carriage movement direction. Aspirate the atmosphere. When using the reaction liquid at the time of image formation, in order to discharge the ink having the coloring material after discharging the reaction liquid, the reaction liquid is discharged from the reaction liquid discharge port array located in front of the carriage movement direction, It is not discharged from the rear reaction liquid discharge port array. As shown in FIG. 3, since the mist is swung up by the rising air flow generated by the discharge from the discharge port and adheres to the discharge port forming surface 15, there is not much mist in the vicinity of the discharge port array where the discharge is not performed. Will not adhere. Accordingly, there is little mist adhering to the vicinity of the rear reaction liquid discharge port array when the carriage 2 moves from the home position HP side to the back position BP side. Therefore, it is only necessary to perform suction from the flow path 3f ₁ positioned forward with respect to the carriage movement direction. On the other hand, when the carriage 2 moves from the back position BP side to the home position HP side, it is only necessary to perform suction only from the flow path 3f ₂ positioned forward in the carriage movement direction.

  In the case of performing such control, it is appropriate to control the flow rate of the airflow flowing through the flow path according to the amount of mist generated from the front reaction liquid discharge port array. In the present embodiment, a recording duty that is a discharge rate per unit area of the reaction liquid is used as an amount related to the amount of mist generated, and the drive pulse duty of the fans 20A and 20B is increased as the recording duty of the reaction liquid is increased. is doing.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow when determining a pulse for driving the fan motor 119 in the present embodiment. When the fan motor drive condition determination sequence is started, the CPU 101 of the main control unit 100 acquires the discharge number of the reaction liquid from the discharge number counter 115 in step S201, and then scans from the scanning area counter 117 in step S202. Get the value of the region. Next, in step S203, an average recording duty is calculated from the number of discharges of the reaction liquid obtained in steps S201 and S202 and the value of the scanning area counter. In step S204, a pulse for driving the fan motor is determined from the average recording duty based on the fan motor driving pulse table recorded in the ROM. Thereafter, in step S205, the fan motor is driven with the pulse determined in step S204. In step S206, the counter is reset and the process ends.

  FIG. 10 is an example of a fan motor drive pulse table. As the recording duty of the reaction liquid is large and the mist easily reacts and adheres to the recording head discharge port forming surface 15, the drive pulse duty of the fan 20 is increased and the number of rotations is increased. Strengthens the airflow between the ink discharge port arrays. Conversely, in a situation where the recording duty of the reaction liquid is small and mist is difficult to react and stick on the recording head discharge port forming surface 15, the drive pulse duty of the fan 20 is lowered and the number of revolutions is reduced, whereby the reaction liquid discharge port array And the air flow between the ink discharge port arrays containing the color material is weakened. By controlling in this way, when landing accuracy such as when recording a line is required (low duty), the flow of airflow for sucking or discharging mist is weakened, and turbulence of landing is reduced. While reducing the influence, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of fixed matter on the discharge port forming surface. Furthermore, in a situation where mist is likely to react and stick (high duty), the flow of airflow can be strengthened to prevent the occurrence of sticking matter on the discharge port forming surface.

  In this way, high-quality recording can be realized without increasing the size of the apparatus by collecting and discharging the mist by two fans through the flow path formed on the discharge port forming surface. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of being realized was realized.

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

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the air flow generated in each of the flow paths 3f ₁ and 3f ₂ by driving the fan 20 in the present embodiment. Similarly to the second embodiment, the present embodiment is also provided with two fans 20A and 20B (see FIG. 7). By these two fans 20A and 20B, suction and discharge are performed from the flow paths 3f ₁ and 3f _2. It is the composition which performs. In this embodiment, suction is performed not only from the front flow path but also from the rear flow path with respect to the carriage movement direction. However, the amount of suction during suction differs between the front flow path and the rear flow path. . Since no reaction liquid is ejected from the rear reactive ink ejection port array and no airflow is generated, mist adheres relatively little to the ejection port forming surface 15. Therefore, it is also possible to use only the front flow path as in the second embodiment. However, when higher reliability is required, such as a printer for business use, in order to further reduce the adhesion of mist to the vicinity of the rear reaction liquid discharge port array (not discharging), It is desirable to perform suction. However, since the air is not discharged from the rear reaction liquid discharge port array and no airflow is generated, the suction flow rate in the rear flow channel may be smaller than the suction flow rate in the front flow channel. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the carriage 2 moves from the home position HP side to the back position BP side, the suction flow rate in the flow path 3f ₁ in the front of the carriage movement direction is increased, and the rear side in the carriage movement direction is increased. The suction flow rate in the flow path 3f ₂ is reduced. Conversely, when the carriage 2 moves from the back position BP side to the home position HP side, the suction flow rate in the flow path 3f ₂ ahead in the carriage movement direction is increased, and the flow path 3f behind the carriage movement direction. The suction flow rate at ₁ is reduced.

  The amount of adhesion to the ejection port forming surface 15 in the vicinity of the color material-containing ink ejection port array is considered to increase as the total amount of ink containing the reaction liquid and the color material increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the flow rate in the front flow path is increased as the sum of the reaction liquid recording duty and the recording duty of the ink including the color material is increased. Further, the rear flow path is increased as the recording duty of the color material-containing ink is increased in order to suppress the adhesion of the color material-containing ink mist to the vicinity of the rear reaction liquid ejection port array.

  FIG. 12 is an example of a fan motor drive pulse table in the present embodiment. Table 1 is used when the fan corresponding to the front flow path in the carriage movement direction is a BP side fan, and Table 2 is used when the fan corresponding to the front flow path in the carriage movement direction is a HP side fan. Is used. The discharge amount of the reaction liquid is approximately 40% of the color material-containing ink, and the sum of the reaction liquid recording duty and the color material-containing ink recording duty is always larger than the color material-containing ink recording duty. Therefore, by setting the recording duty and the duty of the pulse for driving the fan as shown in FIG. 12, the flow rate in the front channel is always larger than the flow rate in the rear channel.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow when determining a pulse for driving the fan motor 119 in the present embodiment. First, the CPU 101 of the main control unit 100 receives the discharge numbers of the color material-containing ink and the reaction liquid from the discharge number counter 115 in step S301. Thereafter, in step S302, the scanning area value is received from the scanning area counter 117. Next, in step S303, an average recording duty is calculated from the number of ejected reaction liquids, the color material-containing ink ejection amount, and the value of the scanning area counter. Then, in step S304, the carriage movement direction (whether the forward direction is the backward direction) is determined. If the carriage is in the forward direction (movement from the HP side to the BP side), the process proceeds to step S305, and the backward direction (from the BP side) is determined. In the case of movement to the HP side), the process proceeds to step S306. In step S305 and step S306, a pulse for driving the fan motor is determined based on the fan motor driving pulse table recorded in the ROM 102 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, in step S307, the fan motor is driven with the determined drive duty. In step S308, the counter is reset and the process ends.

  In addition, in FIG. 11, although the example attracted | sucked from each flow path was shown, the inflow airflow between an ejection port formation surface and a recording medium can also be interrupted | blocked also by discharging | emitting atmosphere from each flow path, The same effect as suction can be obtained.

  Thus, by collecting and discharging the mist through the flow path formed on the discharge port forming surface by two fans driven by different pulses, high recording quality can be achieved without increasing the size of the apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of realizing recording could be realized.

2 Carriage 3 Recording Head 3f Channel 3f ₁ Channel 3f ₂ Channel 13 Inflow Airflow 15 Discharge Port Forming Surface 20 Fan 20A Fan 20B Fan

Claims (9)

An ejection port forming surface includes an ejection port array in which a plurality of ejection ports that eject ink containing a color material form a row, and a reaction liquid ejection port row in which a plurality of ejection ports that eject reaction liquid form a row. In an inkjet recording apparatus that performs recording by discharging the ink and the reaction liquid onto a recording medium while the formed recording head moves.
A flow path is provided between the ink discharge port array and the reaction liquid discharge port array, and the flow path can suck the atmosphere between the discharge port forming surface of the recording head and the recording medium. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising:   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction liquid discharge port array is formed at a front end portion and a rear end portion in a moving direction of the recording head with the ink discharge port array interposed therebetween. .   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the flow paths are provided.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein suction in the flow path is performed by a fan.   5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein two flow paths are provided, and two fans are provided corresponding to the flow paths. 6.   6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein suction amounts at the time of suction in each of the flow paths are different.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein suction is performed only from the flow path provided in front of the recording head in the moving direction.   8. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate in the flow path increases as the recording duty of the reaction liquid increases.   9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow path can be sucked and discharged.

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