JP2012051282A - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that a carriage cannot be moved to a retracting position when the jamming occurs, or, if it is moved, a nozzle surface is scratched to be damaged.SOLUTION: When it is detected that a conveyance belt unit 50 is opened to a second position spaced from a recording head 24, an apparatus determines whether the jamming occurs. If the jamming occurs, the a conveyance belt unit 50 fully is opened. After the conveyance belt 51 is spaced from the carriage 23, an apparatus carries out a retracting operation in which the carriage 23 retreats to the retracting position facing to a maintenance-and-recovery mechanism 9.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and a program for forming an image by ejecting droplets in a horizontal direction.

  As an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying apparatus, a plotter, and a complex machine of these, for example, an ink jet recording apparatus is known as an image forming apparatus of a liquid discharge recording method using a recording head for discharging ink droplets. . This liquid discharge recording type image forming apparatus ejects ink droplets from a recording head onto a conveyed paper to form an image (recording, printing, printing, and printing are also used synonymously). Serial type image forming device that forms an image by ejecting droplets while the recording head moves in the main scanning direction, and a line type that forms images by ejecting droplets without the recording head moving There is a line type image forming apparatus using a head.

  In the present application, “image forming apparatus” means an apparatus for forming an image by landing ink on a medium such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, ceramics, etc. "Image formation" is not only the application of images with meanings such as characters and figures to the medium, but also the addition of images with no meaning such as patterns to the medium (simply applying droplets to the medium) Also means landing). The term “ink” is not limited to what is referred to as ink, but is used as a general term for all liquids that can perform image formation, such as recording liquid, fixing processing liquid, liquid, and resin. . The term “paper” is not limited to paper, but includes the above-described OHP sheet, cloth, and the like, and means that ink droplets adhere to the recording medium, recording medium, recording paper, recording It is used as a general term for what includes what is called paper. In addition, the “image” is not limited to a planar one, but includes an image given to a three-dimensionally formed image, and an image formed by three-dimensionally modeling a solid itself.

  By the way, as a liquid ejection type image forming apparatus, a recording medium is conveyed in a direction along the vertical direction or in a direction inclined with respect to a direction along the vertical direction, and in a horizontal direction or a horizontal direction with respect to the recording medium. A configuration is known in which an image is formed on a recording medium by ejecting droplets from a recording head while reciprocating a recording head that ejects droplets in a direction inclined with respect to the recording head (Patent Document 1). Or 3). Note that the recording medium is transported in a direction along the vertical direction or in a direction inclined with respect to the direction along the vertical direction, and the liquid is applied in the horizontal direction or the direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction with respect to the recording medium. The method of discharging droplets is called “horizontal strike method”.

  In addition, in the image forming apparatus, when it is detected that a jam has occurred, a gap adjusting mechanism that adjusts a gap between the recording head and the paper conveyance surface is driven after the jam detection, and the recording head is moved from the paper conveyance surface. It is known to perform control for retracting the recording head after moving the recording head away from the paper (Patent Document 4).

  Further, the transport unit including the transport belt is disposed so as to be rotatable with the driven roller on the upstream side in the paper transport direction as a fulcrum and the drive roller on the downstream side in the paper transport direction is lowered, and a home position (first position) close to the recording head ) And a release position (second position) separated from the recording head, the jammed paper can be easily taken out in the case of a jam, and the recording head is moved when the recording head is moved to the maintenance / recovery mechanism side. What prevents the possibility of interference between the nozzle surface and the conveyor belt is known (Patent Document 5).

JP 05-338175 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-071897 JP-A-11-204288 JP 2009-166370 A JP 2009-166338 A

  However, when a jam occurs on the transport unit during printing, it is easy to remove the jammed paper by transporting the jammed paper to the position where the jammed paper is to be removed. There is a problem that jammed paper may rub against the nozzle surface, and the nozzle surface of the recording head may be damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent damage to the nozzle surface of a recording head while facilitating the removal of jammed paper in a horizontal hitting apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A recording head that ejects liquid droplets in a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction;
Conveying means for conveying the recording medium facing the recording head in a direction along the vertical direction or in a direction inclined with respect to the direction along the vertical direction;
Maintenance and recovery means for maintaining and recovering the performance of the recording head;
Means for detecting a jam of the recording medium between the conveying means and the recording head,
The transport means is movable between a first position for transporting the recording medium facing the recording head and a second position spaced from the recording head,
When the jam is detected, there is provided a means for controlling the retraction of the recording head to a predetermined retraction position after the transport means is moved to the second position.

  Here, after the recording head is moved to the retracted position, a means for driving the conveying means can be provided.

Also, provided with an extruding means for extruding the recording medium from the recording head side to the conveying means side,
After the transport means is moved to the second position, the ejecting means is driven to perform an operation of pushing the recording medium toward the transport means, and then the recording head is retracted to a predetermined retract position. It can be configured to control.

And a drawing means for drawing the recording medium from the recording head side to the conveying means side,
After the transport unit is moved to the second position, the drawing unit is driven to perform the operation of pulling out the recording medium toward the transport unit, and then the recording head is retracted to a predetermined retract position. It can be configured to control.

And a detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium on the conveying means on the recording head side,
When the transport unit is moved to the second position, and when the detection unit detects the recording medium, control is performed to make an error without retracting the recording head to a predetermined retraction position. it can.

The program according to the present invention is:
A recording head that ejects liquid droplets in a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction;
Conveying means for conveying the recording medium facing the recording head in a direction along the vertical direction or in a direction inclined with respect to the direction along the vertical direction;
Maintenance and recovery means for maintaining and recovering the performance of the recording head;
Means for detecting a jam of the recording medium between the conveying means and the recording head,
The conveying unit is movable between a first position that conveys the recording medium facing the recording head and a second position that is separated from the recording head, and when the jam occurs in the image forming apparatus. A program for causing a computer to perform processing for controlling operations,
When the jam is detected, after the transport unit is moved to the second position, the computer is caused to perform a process of retracting the recording head to a predetermined retracted position.

  According to the image forming apparatus and the program of the present invention, when the jam is detected, the recording unit is retracted to a predetermined retracted position after the transport unit is moved to a position separated from the recording head. In addition, it is possible to prevent the damage of the nozzle surface of the recording head while facilitating the removal of the jammed paper in the horizontal hitting apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a side explanatory view of a mechanism unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is side surface explanatory drawing of a conveyance path open state similarly. It is an elevation explanatory drawing similarly. It is block explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the control part of the apparatus. It is typical side surface explanatory drawing used for description of the opening / closing operation | movement of a conveyance belt unit. It is explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of generation | occurrence | production of jam and jam detection processing. It is a flowchart with which it uses for description of control of the jam processing operation which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart with which it uses for description of control of the jam processing operation which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart with which it uses for description of control of the jam processing operation | movement which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic elevation explanatory drawing which uses for description of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is side surface schematic explanatory drawing similarly. It is explanatory drawing similarly used for description of an extrusion member drive mechanism. It is a flowchart with which it uses for description of control of the jam processing operation | movement in the embodiment. It is side surface typical explanatory drawing with which it uses for description of 5th Embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is an explanatory side view of the mechanism portion of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view of the state where the conveyance path is opened, and FIG.

  This image forming apparatus is a serial type image forming apparatus, and has an image forming unit 2, a transport mechanism unit 5 and the like inside the apparatus main body, and can stack sheets 10 as recording media on the lower side of the apparatus main body. A paper feed tray (including a paper feed cassette and used in the meaning of a paper feed unit) 4 is provided, the paper 10 fed from the paper feed tray 4 is taken in, and the paper 10 is moved vertically by the transport mechanism 5 (vertical). The image forming unit 2 discharges droplets in the horizontal direction and records a required image while intermittently transporting the sheet 10 on the sheet 10 on the sheet discharge unit 7. The sheet 10 is discharged to a sheet discharge tray 7 provided on the upper side of the apparatus main body.

  Also, when performing duplex printing, after the printing on one side (front side) is completed, the paper 10 is taken into the reversing unit 8 from the paper discharge unit 7, and the paper 10 is reversed while being transported in the reverse direction by the transport mechanism unit 5 to the other side. (Back side) is sent again to the transport mechanism 5 as a printable side, and the paper 10 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 7 after the other side (back side) printing is completed.

  Here, the image forming unit 2 slidably holds a carriage 23 on which a recording head 24 is mounted with a main guide member 21 and a sub guide member 22 that are horizontally mounted between the left and right side plates 11L and 11R, and a main scanning motor. 25, the moving scanning is performed in the main scanning direction via the timing belt 28 passed between the driving pulley 26 and the driven pulley 27.

  The carriage 23 has recording heads 24a and 24b composed of liquid ejection heads for ejecting ink droplets of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). As shown, the recording head 24 is arranged in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the droplet discharge direction is mounted in the horizontal direction.

  Each of the recording heads 24 has two nozzle rows. One nozzle row of the recording head 24a has black (K) droplets, the other nozzle row has cyan (C) droplets, and the recording head 24b has one nozzle row. One nozzle row ejects magenta (M) droplets, and the other nozzle row ejects yellow (Y) droplets. As the recording head 24, a recording head having a nozzle row of each color in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged on one nozzle surface may be used.

  The liquid discharge head constituting the recording head 24 includes a piezoelectric actuator such as a piezoelectric element, a thermal actuator that utilizes a phase change due to liquid film boiling using an electrothermal conversion element such as a heating resistor, and a metal due to a temperature change. A shape memory alloy actuator using a phase change, an electrostatic actuator using an electrostatic force, or the like provided as pressure generating means for generating a pressure for discharging a droplet can be used. The carriage 23 can also be mounted with a liquid discharge head that discharges a fixing liquid that reacts with the ink to enhance the fixability of the ink.

  Although not shown, the carriage 23 is provided with a head tank (not shown) for supplying ink of each color corresponding to the nozzle row of the recording head 24. The head tank is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. Ink is supplied from each color ink cartridge (main tank).

  Further, an encoder scale 121 having a predetermined pattern is stretched between the both side plates 21L and 21R along the main scanning direction of the carriage 23, and the carriage 23 is composed of a transmission type photosensor that reads the pattern of the encoder scale 121. An encoder sensor 122 is provided, and the encoder scale 121 and the encoder sensor 122 constitute a linear encoder (main scanning encoder) 123 that detects the movement of the carriage 23.

  A maintenance / recovery mechanism 9 for maintaining and recovering the state of the nozzles of the recording head 24 is disposed in a non-printing area on one side in the scanning direction of the carriage 23. The maintenance / recovery mechanism 9 includes caps 92a and 92b for capping each nozzle surface of the recording head 24 (referred to as “cap 92” when not distinguished) and wiping by moving the nozzle surface in the direction of the arrow. A wiper member (wiper blade) 93 that performs the discharge, and an empty discharge receiver 94 that receives liquid droplets for discharging the liquid droplets that do not contribute to recording in order to discharge the thickened recording liquid.

  The sheets 10 in the sheet feeding tray 4 are stacked on a sheet stacking unit (pressure plate) 41, separated one by one by a sheet feeding roller (half moon roller) 43 and a separation pad (not shown), fed into the apparatus main body, and conveyed. Along the guide surfaces of the guide members 45 and 46 and the pressing member 47, the sheet is fed between the conveying belt 51 and the pressing roller 48 of the conveying mechanism unit 5 and conveyed while being pressed against the conveying belt 51 by the tip pressure roller 47. Is done.

  The conveyance mechanism unit 5 includes an endless conveyance belt 51 that is stretched between a conveyance roller 52 that is a driving roller and a driven roller 53, a charging roller 54 that charges the conveyance belt 51, and the image forming unit 2. A platen member 55 that maintains the flatness of the conveyor belt 51 at a portion facing the conveyor belt 51, a conveyor roller 56, a driven roller 53, and a spur unit 57 having a spur 58 that opposes the conveyor roller 56, and the like.

  The conveyance belt 51 rotates in the belt conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction, paper conveyance direction) when the conveyance roller 52 is rotationally driven by the sub-scanning motor 151 via the timing belt 152 and the timing pulley 153.

  Further, a high-resolution code wheel 154 is attached to the shaft 52a of the transport roller 52, and an encoder sensor 155 including a transmissive photosensor for detecting a pattern formed on the code wheel 154 is provided. These code wheel 154 and the encoder A rotary encoder (sub-scanning encoder) 156 that detects the amount and position of movement of the conveyor belt 51 by the sensor 155 is configured.

  The paper discharge unit 6 includes a conveyance guide member 61, a paper discharge roller 62A and a spur 62B, and a paper discharge roller 63A and a spur 63B. The paper 10 on which an image is formed is disposed between the paper discharge roller 63A and the spur 63B. Paper is discharged face down on the paper discharge tray 7.

  Further, the reversing unit 8 has continuous reversing paths 81a to 81c for reversing the paper 10 partially ejected to the paper discharge tray 7, and switching for switching the transport path in order to send the paper 10 to the reversing path 81a. It has a nail 83 and the like. The reverse path 81a is formed by the conveyance guide member 61 and the guide member 83a, the reverse path 81b is formed by the conveyance belt 51 and the guide member 84, and the reverse path 81c is formed by the conveyance guide members 45 and 46. The reverse path 81a is provided with a transport roller 85 and a required number of spurs 88, and the reverse path 81b is provided with transport auxiliary rollers 86 and 87 facing the driven roller 53 and the transport roller 52, respectively.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, a front cover 101 is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body so as to be openable and closable with a lower support shaft 102 as a fulcrum, and the front cover 101 has guide members 83 and 84, a conveying roller. 85, conveyance auxiliary rollers 86 and 87 are attached. Further, the conveyance belt 51, the conveyance roller 52, the driven roller 53, and the conveyance roller 56 are integrated as a conveyance belt unit 50, and are provided so as to be openable and closable (swingable) with the shaft 52a of the conveyance roller 52 as a fulcrum. Further, the conveyance guide member 61 is also provided so as to be openable and closable (swingable) with the switching claw 82 side as a fulcrum.

  Thereby, by opening the front cover 101, the reversal paths 81a to 81c can be opened, and the jam processing at the time of duplex printing can be easily performed. Further, by opening the front cover 101, the conveyance belt unit 50 can be opened to separate the recording head 24 and the conveyance belt 51, and the conveyance guide member 61 can be opened to open the paper discharge path 60. Therefore, the jam processing becomes easy.

  In this image forming apparatus configured as described above, the paper 10 is separated and fed from the paper feed tray 4 one by one, and the paper 10 is electrostatically attracted to the charged transport belt 51, and the transport belt 51 is moved by the circular movement. The paper 10 is conveyed in the vertical direction. Therefore, by driving the recording head 24 according to the image signal while moving the carriage 23, ink droplets are ejected onto the stopped paper 10 to record one line, and after the paper 10 is conveyed by a predetermined amount, The next line is recorded, and the sheet 10 for which recording has been completed is discharged to the discharge tray 7.

  When performing the maintenance and recovery of the nozzles of the recording head 24, the nozzle 23 is moved to a position facing the maintenance and recovery mechanism 9 that is the home position, and is capped by the cap 92 to perform suction from the nozzles. By performing a maintenance and recovery operation such as idle ejection for ejecting droplets that do not contribute to image formation, image formation by stable droplet ejection can be performed.

Next, an outline of the control unit of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the figure is a block explanatory drawing of the control part.
The control unit 500 temporarily stores a CPU 501 that controls the entire apparatus, various programs including a program that causes the CPU 501 to execute control (processing) according to the present invention, a ROM 502 that stores other fixed data, image data, and the like. RAM 503 for storing, rewritable nonvolatile memory 504 for holding data even while the power of the apparatus is shut off, image processing for performing various signal processing and rearrangement on image data, and other control of the entire apparatus An ASIC 505 for processing input / output signals for the purpose is provided.

  Also, a print control unit 508 including a data transfer unit for driving and controlling the recording head 24 and a driving signal generating unit, a head driver (driver IC) 509 for driving the recording head 24 provided on the carriage 23 side, A main scanning motor 25 that moves and scans the carriage 23, motor driving units 510 and 511 for driving a sub-scanning motor 151 that moves the conveyor belt 51 in a circular manner, an AC bias supply unit 512 that supplies an AC bias to the charging roller 54, and the like It has.

  The control unit 500 is connected to an operation panel 514 for inputting and displaying information necessary for the apparatus.

  The control unit 500 has an I / F 506 for transmitting and receiving data and signals to and from the host side, an information processing device such as a personal computer, an image reading device such as an image scanner, an imaging device such as a digital camera, and the like. From the host 600 side via the cable or network via the I / F 506.

  The CPU 501 of the control unit 500 reads and analyzes the print data in the reception buffer included in the I / F 506, performs necessary image processing, data rearrangement processing, and the like in the ASIC 505, and prints the image data. The data is transferred from the unit 508 to the head driver 509. Note that generation of dot pattern data for image output is performed by the printer driver 601 on the host 600 side.

  The print control unit 508 transfers the above-described image data as serial data, and outputs a transfer clock, a latch signal, a control signal, and the like necessary for transferring the image data and confirming the transfer to the head driver 509. Including a D / A converter for D / A converting D / A conversion of drive pulse pattern data stored in the ROM, a voltage signal amplifier, a current amplifier, and the like, and a drive signal or a plurality of drive pulses Is output to the head driver 509.

  The head driver 509 selectively selects a drive pulse that constitutes a drive signal provided from the print control unit 508 based on image data corresponding to one line of the print head 24 that is input serially, and drops droplets of the print head 24. The recording head 24 is driven by applying it to a driving element (for example, a piezoelectric element) that generates energy to be discharged. At this time, by selecting a drive pulse that constitutes a drive signal, for example, droplets having different droplet sizes, such as large droplets, medium droplets, and small droplets, can be ejected and dots having different sizes can be sorted.

  The I / O unit 513 includes a main scanning encoder 123, a sub-scanning encoder 156, various sensor groups 515 mounted on the apparatus, and a conveyor belt unit open / close sensor 520 that is a detection unit that detects opening / closing of the conveyor belt unit 50. Information is acquired, information necessary for printer control is extracted, and used to control the print control unit 508, motor drive units 510 and 511, and AC bias supply unit 511. The sensor group 515 monitors the voltage of an optical sensor (paper sensor 521: see FIG. 3) provided in the carriage 23 for detecting the position of the paper, the thermistor for monitoring the temperature and humidity in the machine, and the charging belt. Sensors, an interlock switch for detecting opening / closing of the cover, and the like, and the I / O unit 513 can process various sensor information.

  The transport belt unit open / close sensor 520 is, for example, a push-type switch installed in the housing of the apparatus main body, and the transport belt unit 50 faces the recording head 24 as shown in FIG. When moved (opened) from the first position for transporting the paper 10 to the second position separated from the recording head 24 as shown in FIG. In this state, it detects the opening of the transport unit.

  The CPU 501 also detects a speed detection value and a position detection value obtained by sampling a detection pulse from the encoder sensor 122 constituting the main scanning encoder 123, and a speed target value and a position target obtained from a previously stored speed / position profile. The drive output value (control value) for the main scanning motor 25 is calculated based on the value and the main scanning motor 25 is driven via the motor driving unit 210. Similarly, a speed detection value and a position detection value obtained by sampling a detection pulse from the encoder sensor 155 constituting the sub-scanning encoder 156, a speed target value and a position target value obtained from a previously stored speed / position profile, and Based on this, a drive output value (control value) for the sub-scanning motor 151 is calculated, and the sub-scanning motor 151 is driven via the motor driving unit 211.

Next, jam generation and jam detection processing in the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, the sheet 10 is conveyed by being electrostatically attracted to the conveyance belt 51. At this time, if the sheet 10 is lifted or folded, the sheet 10 and the carriage 3 come into contact with each other, and the carriage 23 moves as it is. Then, a jam occurs as shown in FIG. 5 (the jammed paper 210 is “jammed paper 10A”).

  As described above, the jam of the paper 10 generated between the conveyance belt 51 and the carriage 23 is in a state in which the jammed paper 10A is jammed between the carriage 23 and the conveyance belt 51, and therefore the carriage movement direction (main scanning direction). ) Cannot move the carriage 23. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, when a jam occurs on one side in the moving direction of the carriage 23, the carriage 23 may be retracted by moving it in the opposite direction. However, when the carriage 23 cannot be moved mechanically by the jammed paper 10A, the carriage 23 cannot be retreated when the retracted position of the carriage 23 is on the side opposite to the jammed paper 10A. If the carriage 23 is forcibly moved while the jammed paper 10A is jammed, the nozzle surface of the recording head 24 is rubbed with the jammed paper 10A, and the nozzle surface is damaged.

  Here, the occurrence of a jam between the conveyance belt 51 and the carriage 23 is that the movement speed of the carriage 23 obtained from the output signal of the main scanning encoder 123 becomes “0” or the main scanning motor 25. Can be detected (determined) by detecting that the drive current for driving the voltage exceeds a predetermined allowable value.

Next, the control of the jam processing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the conveyance belt unit 50 is opened and the conveyance path is opened, the conveyance belt unit sensor 520 detects the conveyance belt unit open (S201), and whether or not a jam has occurred (belt unit open due to jam occurrence). Whether or not) (S202).

  When the jam occurs, it is determined whether or not the conveyor belt unit 50 is completely opened. When the conveyor belt unit 50 is completely opened, the completion of the conveyor belt unit is detected (S203). Here, the means for detecting the completion of the conveyance belt unit opening is a means different from the conveyance belt unit opening / closing sensor 522. For example, a push-type switch similar to the conveyance belt unit opening / closing sensor 520 is connected to the conveyance belt unit 520 completely. By disposing it at a position that is pressed when it is opened, the completion of the conveyance belt unit opening is detected.

  When the conveyance belt unit 50 is fully opened, the carriage 23 and the recording head 24 are separated from the conveyance belt 51, so that the paper 10 is jammed between the conveyance belt 51 and the carriage 23 due to the occurrence of a jam. The condition is resolved.

  Therefore, the carriage 23 can be reliably retracted by performing a retracting operation for retracting the carriage 23 to a predetermined retracted position (for example, a position facing the maintenance / recovery mechanism 9: home position) after the completion of the conveyance belt unit opening. Yes (S204). In this case, since the jammed paper 10A is not jammed, the carriage 23 can be moved in any direction of the main scanning direction, and the predetermined retraction position is not only the home position but also the main scanning. The direction can be the position opposite to the home position in the direction, or both, and in the case of both, it can be retracted closer.

  If the transport belt 51 is in a charged state, the paper 10 is attracted and held by the transport belt 51 when the transport belt unit 50 is opened. Therefore, when the carriage 23 is retracted, the nozzle surface of the recording head 24 is placed on the paper 10. Can be more reliably prevented from touching.

  As described above, when the jam is detected, after the transport unit is moved to a position away from the recording head, the recording head is retracted to a predetermined retracting position. It is possible to prevent damage to the nozzle surface of the recording head while facilitating the removal of the paper.

Next, the control of the jam processing operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Here, in the jam processing operation in the first embodiment, a process (S305) of driving the transport belt 51 after performing the retracting operation of the carriage 23 is added.

  Thus, when the jammed paper 10A is attracted to the transport belt 51, the jammed paper 10A is transported upward, so that the user can easily remove the jammed paper 10A.

  The driving amount of the transport belt 51 is preferably an amount that causes the jammed paper 10 </ b> A to be away from other rollers such as a paper feed roller and to touch only the transport belt 51. Friction of other rollers is eliminated and the jammed paper 10A can be easily removed, and the jammed paper 10A is adsorbed to the transport belt 51, so that the jammed paper 10A can be prevented from falling. Further, the moving speed of the conveyor belt 51 can be set to be slower than that during the printing operation.

Next, the control of the jam processing operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In the present embodiment, whether or not the paper sensor 521 mounted on the carriage 23 detects the paper 10 after the detection of the completion of the conveyance belt unit (S203) in the first embodiment (or the second embodiment). (S205), and when a sheet is detected, the process proceeds to an error display (S206) and the carriage retracting operation is not performed.

  That is, when the transport belt unit 50 is opened, the paper 10 should be attracted to the transport belt 51, but depending on the case, the paper 10 may stick to the recording head 24 (carriage 23) side and be peeled off from the transport belt 51. is there. At this time, if the carriage 23 is retracted due to the detection of the opening of the transport belt unit 50, the carriage scanning system is damaged, or the nozzle surface of the recording head 24 is rubbed and damaged by the paper 10.

  Therefore, even when the transport belt unit 50 is detected, if the paper sensor 521 of the carriage 23 detects the paper 10, it is determined that the paper 10 remains on the recording head 24 side and the carriage retreat operation is not performed. I have to. In this case, since the sheet sensor for detecting the normal sheet width and the leading end of the sheet is mounted on the carriage 23, the existing detecting means can be used without causing an increase in configuration or cost.

  In addition, as can be seen from the processing flow of FIG. 9, this configuration similarly detects the paper by the paper sensor 521 even when the conveyance belt unit 50 is opened without detecting jamming. It can be performed as a general process of time.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that FIG. 10 is a schematic elevation view of a main part for explaining the embodiment, FIG. 11 is a schematic side view for explaining the same, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory view for explaining the pushing member driving mechanism.
In the present embodiment, an extruding member 112 that pushes the paper 10 from the carriage 23 side to the transport belt 51 side is provided on the carriage 23 side across the transport path of the paper 10. The push-out member 112 is a rod-shaped member that is longer than the width in the main scanning direction of the transport belt 51 along the main scanning direction, and both ends are supported by the support members 113 and are substantially horizontal from the carriage 23 side to the transport belt 51 side. It is arrange | positioned so that a movement in a direction is possible, and is moved by the extrusion member drive mechanism.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the pushing member 112 is movably disposed in a guide groove 113 a formed in the support wall 113, and is pressed against the eccentric cam 114 by a pressing spring 115. Thereby, the pushing member 112 moves in the horizontal direction by rotating the eccentric cam 114. The support wall 113 may be constituted by, for example, the side plates 11L and 11R, or may be a member provided separately.

  For driving the eccentric cam 114, for example, the rotation of the motor may be transmitted via a gear or a belt, or the gear or belt may be configured to be interlocked with the rotational movement of the transport belt unit 50. In addition, the cam shape is not limited to the eccentric cam 114, and may be another shape from the relationship between the cam rotation and the movement amount of the pushing member. Further, a crank mechanism or the like can be used instead of the cam mechanism.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the transport belt unit 50 is in the first position, the pushing member 112 is located farther from the paper 10 than the nozzle surface of the recording head 24. The conveyance of the paper 10 is not hindered. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the transport belt unit 50 is opened, the pushing member 112 is moved from the carriage 23 (recording head 24) side to the transport belt 51 side. As the pushing member 112 moves, the paper 10 is pushed out toward the conveying belt 51, so that the paper 10 is separated from the carriage 23 and hardly comes into contact with the nozzle surface of the recording head 24. In addition, the paper 10 is easily tilted toward the transport belt 51 and is easily attracted to the transport belt 51.

  The pushing member 112 is preferably installed in the vicinity of the carriage 23 for the purpose of separating the paper 10 from the carriage 23. Further, when the conveying direction is not only upward but also downward, the pushing member 112 may be installed above the carriage 23. The shape of the extrusion member 112 may be any of a rod shape, a plate shape, and a wire, but it is preferable that the contact area with the paper 10 when the extrusion member 112 moves is large.

Next, the control of the jam processing operation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
Here, in the jam handling operation of the second embodiment, after the completion of the opening of the conveyor belt unit 50 is detected (S403), the pushing member driving mechanism is driven to move the pushing member 112 to the carrying belt 51 side (S404). Then, after the pushing member 112 is moved, the carriage 23 is retracted (S405). At this time, the paper 10 is pushed toward the conveying belt 51 and moved away from the carriage 23 by the movement of the pushing member 112, so that the possibility of rubbing against the nozzle surface of the recording head 24 during the retracting operation of the carriage 23 is reduced.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a schematic side view for explaining the embodiment.
In the present embodiment, an attracting member 116 that attracts the sheet 10 from the carriage 23 side to the conveyor belt 51 side is provided in conjunction with the opening operation of the conveyor belt unit 50. Since the distance between the attracting member 116 and the conveyance belt 51 does not change, “attracting” means that the paper 10 is moved away from the carriage 23 side.

  With this configuration, the attracting member 116 moves in conjunction with opening and closing of the transport belt unit 50, so that the driving means for the attracting member 116 is not required, the configuration is simplified, and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the attracting member 116 and the transport belt unit 50 are connected and fixed, the clearance between the attracting member 116 and the transport belt 51 can be kept constant, and the clearance when the transport belt unit 50 is opened is set to the pressing member. It becomes easy to make it smaller than 112. Further, not only does the paper 10 become difficult to come apart from the carriage 23, but the paper 10 is more likely to fall on the side of the transport belt 51, and can be easily attracted to the transport belt 51.

  The preferred installation position and shape of the attracting member 116 are the same as those of the pushing member 112.

  The processing related to the carriage retracting operation described above can be performed by a computer by a program stored in a ROM or the like, and this program can be provided by being stored in a storage medium or through a network such as the Internet. Provided by downloading. The image forming system can also be configured by combining the image forming apparatus described in the above embodiment and the host side (information processing apparatus).

  In the above embodiment, the paper is conveyed in the direction along the vertical direction (vertical direction) and the liquid droplets are ejected in the horizontal direction. However, the paper is moved in the direction along the vertical direction (vertical direction). Even if the liquid droplets are transported in an inclined direction and the liquid droplets are discharged in a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the bleeding of the landed liquid droplets is different in the vertical direction of the gravity direction. Can be applied as well.

2 Paper feed tray 10 Paper (recording medium)
23 Carriage 24 Recording Head 50 Conveying Belt Unit 51 Conveying Belt 500 Control Unit

Claims (6)

A recording head that ejects liquid droplets in a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction;
Conveying means for conveying the recording medium facing the recording head in a direction along the vertical direction or in a direction inclined with respect to the direction along the vertical direction;
Maintenance and recovery means for maintaining and recovering the performance of the recording head;
Means for detecting a jam of the recording medium between the conveying means and the recording head,
The transport means is movable between a first position for transporting the recording medium facing the recording head and a second position spaced from the recording head,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to control the retraction of the recording head to a predetermined retraction position after the transport unit is moved to the second position when the jam is detected.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit that drives the transport unit after the recording head is moved to the retracted position. An extrusion means for extruding the recording medium from the recording head side to the conveying means side;
After the transport means is moved to the second position, the ejecting means is driven to perform an operation of pushing the recording medium toward the transport means, and then the recording head is retracted to a predetermined retract position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled. A drawing means for drawing the recording medium from the recording head side to the conveying means side;
After the transport unit is moved to the second position, the drawing unit is driven to perform the operation of pulling out the recording medium toward the transport unit, and then the recording head is retracted to a predetermined retract position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled. A detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a recording medium on the conveying means on the recording head side;
When the transport unit is moved to the second position, and when the detection unit is detecting the recording medium, the recording head is controlled to be an error without being retracted to a predetermined retraction position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A recording head that ejects liquid droplets in a horizontal direction or a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction;
Conveying means for conveying the recording medium facing the recording head in a direction along the vertical direction or in a direction inclined with respect to the direction along the vertical direction;
Maintenance and recovery means for maintaining and recovering the performance of the recording head;
Means for detecting a jam of the recording medium between the conveying means and the recording head,
The conveying unit is movable between a first position that conveys the recording medium facing the recording head and a second position that is separated from the recording head, and when the jam occurs in the image forming apparatus. A program for causing a computer to perform processing for controlling operations,
A program for causing a computer to perform a process of retracting the recording head to a predetermined retracted position after the transport unit is moved to the second position when the jam is detected.

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