JP2012096390A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet recording device capable of rapidly controlling a temperature of air sent to a recording medium on which an image is formed.SOLUTION: The ink jet recording device includes a fixing device 11 for fixing a recording image of a recording medium in which recording has been performed by a recording means. The fixing device 11 includes: a heater 135 for heating interior air; and a fan 133 for moving the interior air along a flow passage. The fixing device 11 can fix an image by sending air heated by the heater 135 to a portion of the recording medium where the recording image is formed. In the fixing device 11, a fixing device suction port 503 and a fixing device exhaust port 504 which can be opened/closed are provided in the flow passage. A cross section of the flow passage with the fixing device suction port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 opened is set larger than that with the fixing device suction port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 closed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium, and more particularly, to an ink jet recording apparatus having fixing means for fixing a recorded image to a recording medium.

  In an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a recording apparatus), an image is formed on a recording medium by discharging ink used for recording from the recording head to the recording medium. Therefore, the surface of the recording medium immediately after the recording is performed is in a state where the ink ejected on the recording medium has not yet dried and is wet. Therefore, if the user touches the recording medium in that state or the recording surface of the recording medium comes into contact with components inside the recording apparatus when the recording medium is transported again in the recording apparatus for double-sided recording, However, there is a case where the image quality of the recorded image is deteriorated by rubbing there. For this reason, there has been proposed a recording apparatus that blows air to a portion on which a recording medium is placed by a fan, dries the recording medium, and performs image fixing.

  However, there are various types of recording media. Accordingly, the appropriate temperature of the air blown when the image is fixed by blowing differs depending on the type of the recording medium. When fixing an image recorded on plain paper, since plain paper uses pulp as a main raw material, it is possible to blow a relatively high temperature hot air of 60 to 80 ° C. By blowing a relatively high temperature hot air onto the recording medium, the fixing of the image can be completed in a short time.

  On the other hand, recording may be performed on glossy photographic paper suitable for recording high-quality photographic images. Glossy photographic paper is often formed by a plurality of layers having different functions, such as an ink receiving layer and a base material layer, and the plurality of layers having different functions may be formed from different materials. Further, the layer forming the glossy photographic paper may contain a resin. Therefore, when the glossy photographic paper is conveyed into a high-temperature fixing furnace, the resin may melt. Further, when the recording medium is formed of a plurality of layers such as glossy photographic paper, the thermal expansion coefficient of each layer may be different. By blowing relatively high temperature air to such a recording medium, When fixing an image, the recording medium may be warped in the fixing furnace. When the recording medium is warped as described above, the recording medium may come into contact with the fixing furnace or the conveying member, which may reduce the conveying accuracy. When the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium decreases, this may cause a decrease in the quality of the recorded image and clogging of the recording medium.

  For this reason, when fixing an image on a recording medium on which recording has been performed, it is desirable to adjust the temperature of the air blown to fix the image. In response to such a problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a recording apparatus in which the temperature of air sent to a recording medium is adjusted according to recording conditions, and the temperature-adjusted air is sent to the recording medium. In the recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the temperature of the blown air is adjusted by adjusting the amount of heat for heating the blown air and by adjusting the drive of the fan used for intake and exhaust. Has been.

JP-A-6-210845

  However, in the recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the flow rate of air blown toward the recording medium on which the recorded image is formed does not change much. Therefore, even if air is taken from the outside of the recording apparatus in order to cool the blown air, there is a limit to the amount of air that can be taken. Therefore, there is a possibility that the amount of air taken into the recording apparatus from the outside to adjust the temperature of the blown air is insufficient, and it takes a relatively long time to adjust the temperature of the blown air. May be needed.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of rapidly adjusting the temperature of air blown to a recording medium on which an image is formed.

  The inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention includes a recording unit that performs recording by applying ink to a recording medium, and a fixing unit that fixes a recorded image of the recording medium recorded by the recording unit, The fixing unit includes a heating unit for heating the internal air and a blower unit for moving the internal air along the flow path, and the air heated by the heating unit is recorded on the recording medium. It is possible to fix the image by blowing air to the site where the image is formed, and the fixing means has an opening that can be opened and closed in the flow path, and the flow path has the opening opened. When in the closed state, the cross-sectional area is larger than when the opening is in the closed state.

  According to the inkjet recording apparatus of the present invention, since the cross-sectional area of the flow path is formed large when the opening of the fixing unit is opened, the flow rate of air flowing through the flow path of the fixing unit is increased, Air temperature can be adjusted efficiently. Therefore, since the time required for temperature adjustment can be shortened, the waiting time of the user for temperature adjustment can be shortened, and the troublesomeness of the user can be reduced.

1 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line | wire about the fixing device used for the inkjet recording device of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system in the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1. (A), (b) is sectional drawing in the fixing device of FIG. 2, (a) is shown about the state which the top cover unit lowered | hung, (b) is shown about the state which the top cover unit moved upwards. ing. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing a path of air supplied to a fixing device intake port and a path of air exhausted from a fixing device exhaust port in the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing a mechanism for moving a top cover unit in conjunction with movement of a carriage in the ink jet recording apparatus of FIG. 1. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of a fixing device used in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A shows a state in which the top cover unit is lowered, and FIG. The state is shown.

  Hereinafter, an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus 100 to which the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied as viewed from the side.

  The recording medium 1 is accommodated in a paper feed cassette 2, picked up one by one by a paper feed roller and a separating unit (not shown), and sequentially conveyed toward a recording position. Reference numeral 3 denotes a U-turn conveyance unit which conveys the recording medium 1 in the direction of an arrow 4 indicated by a solid line. The U-turn conveyance unit 3 also serves as a double-side reversing unit. The recording medium 1 fed along the arrow 4 indicated by the solid line is nipped by the LF roller 5 and the pinch roller 6 which form a part of the conveying means and conveyed to a recording position corresponding to the recording head 7. A recording head 7 serving as a recording unit is placed on a carriage (not shown), and ejects ink, which is a recording liquid, from a discharge port toward a recording medium while scanning in a main scanning direction that is a direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. And record. As a result, ink is applied to the recording medium 1 and recording is performed. A platen 8 supports the lower surface of the recording medium 1 during recording. Reference numeral 9 denotes a paper discharge roller which, together with the roller 10, sandwiches and conveys the recording medium 1 that has passed through a position corresponding to the recording head 7. Reference numeral 11 denotes a fixing device as fixing means for fixing a recorded image on a recording medium on which recording has been performed. The fixing device 11 has a heating unit for heating the internal air and a blowing unit for moving the internal air along the flow path. Then, it is possible to fix the image by blowing the air heated by the heating means to the portion of the recording medium where the recorded image is formed. In the present embodiment, the fixing device 11 includes a fan 133 that is a blowing unit and a heater 135 that is a heating unit for air formed by nichrome wire. The heating means is not limited to a heater formed of nichrome wire, and any other heating means may be used as long as air can be heated. Further, the air blowing means is not limited to the fan, and may be other air blowing means.

  Hot air is blown to the recording medium 1 in the direction of the arrow 14 in the fixing device 11 to dry the ink on the recording medium 1. Reference numeral 15 denotes a discharge roller provided on the downstream side of the fixing device, and sandwiches and conveys the recording medium 1 that has passed through the fixing device 11 together with the roller 16. Reference numeral 13 indicated by a dotted line is a fixing platen that is inside the fixing device 11 and supports the lower surface of the recording medium 1 being dried. The recording medium 1 discharged from the fixing device 11 is discharged to a discharge tray 17.

  The ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is configured to perform single-sided recording and double-sided recording. At the time of single-sided recording, the recording medium 1 is recorded at a position corresponding to the recording head 7, the recorded image is fixed through the fixing device 11, and then discharged from the ink jet recording apparatus. At the time of double-sided recording, when recording on the front side surface of the recording medium 1 is finished, the rollers are temporarily stopped with the recording medium 1 sandwiched between the paper discharge roller 9 and the roller 10 and the discharge roller 15 and the roller 16. . Thereafter, the rollers are reversed, and the recording medium 1 is conveyed along the dotted arrow 18 and wound around the U-turn conveyance unit 3. Thereafter, the recording medium 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 4 indicated by the solid line, and the recording medium 1 is sandwiched between the LF roller 5 and the pinch roller 6 in a state where the relationship between the front and back is reversed.

  Between the U-turn conveyance unit 3 and the LF roller 5 and the pinch roller 6, a flapper (not shown) for switching and restricting the traveling direction of the recording medium 1 is disposed. Accordingly, when the recording medium is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 18 indicated by the dotted line, the conveyance direction of the recording medium is switched by the flapper. When the recording medium 1 is again sandwiched between the LF roller 5 and the pinch roller 6 after passing through the path of the arrow 18 indicated by the dotted line, the relationship between the front and back of the recording medium 1 is when it passes through the path for the first time. This is the opposite, and the recorded surface is on the lower side. Thereafter, recording is performed on the back surface of the recording medium in the same manner as in the front surface recording, and the recorded image is fixed through the fixing device 11 and then discharged onto the discharge tray 17.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the fixing device 11 as seen from the cutting line AA shown in FIG. The fixing device 11 is covered with a top cover unit 103 and a fixing case unit 104. The top cover unit 103 and the fixing case unit 104 each have a resin outer case and an aluminum inner case and are formed in a double structure. Therefore, an air layer can be formed between the outer case and the inner case. Thereby, the escape of the heat energy to the outside of the outer case is suppressed to a small extent. Note that a heat insulating material layer may be formed between the outer case and the inner case. Thereby, the escape of thermal energy to the outside of the outer case can be further reduced. The top cover unit 103 includes a hot air blowing plate 117 in which a plurality of through holes are formed so that hot air is blown evenly onto the recording medium 1. In this embodiment, the recording medium 1 conveyed into the fixing device 11 is guided by the hot air blowing plate 117 on the upper surface and the fixing platen 13 on the lower surface, and enters the recording medium conveyance path 159 therebetween. .

  Below the fixing device 11, a fan 133 and a heater 135 are provided. By simultaneously driving these, hot air is generated by heated air in the fixing device 11. The hot air generated here circulates in the fixing device 11 as indicated by an arrow. The flow path of the air to be blown has a shape that circulates so that the air is blown by the fan 133 to the portion where the recording image of the recording medium is formed and then returned to the fan 133 again. In FIG. 2, the warm air circulates in the fixing device 11 in the clockwise direction. The warm air is once guided above the warm air blowing plate 117 and blown to the recording medium conveyance path 159 and the recording medium 1 passing through the hole provided in the hot air blowing plate 117. The recording medium 1 travels in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. Here, in order to allow the recording medium to enter and be discharged into the fixing device 11, the fixing device 11 has a slit-like shape as an entrance and an outlet of the recording medium to the fixing device 11. An opening is formed. Strictly speaking, the inside of the fixing device 11 is opened to the outside air by these openings. However, these inlets and outlets are formed with a sufficiently small area. Therefore, the warm air that is about to flow out from these openings is pulled back by the negative pressure generated by the fan 133 and hardly leaks out of the fixing device 11. A temperature sensor 145 is inserted in the fixing device 11 and measures the temperature of the internal hot air. Thus, in this embodiment, the temperature sensor 145 is provided in the flow path of the fixing device 11 as temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the air inside the flow path.

  FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a control system in the inkjet recording apparatus of the present embodiment. The CPU 1000 executes various types of operation control processing, data processing, and the like in response to input from the host device 2000. The ROM 1010 stores programs such as those processing procedures, and the RAM 1020 is used as a work area for executing these processes. Ink is ejected from the recording head 102 by the CPU 1000 supplying drive data (image data) and a drive control signal (heat pulse signal) such as an electrothermal transducer to the head driver 1030. The CPU 1000 controls a carriage motor 1040 for driving the carriage in the main scanning direction via a motor driver 1050, and controls a conveyance motor 1060 for conveying a recording medium via a motor driver 1070. In this embodiment, the ROM 1010, the RAM 1020, and the CPU 1000 function as a recording control unit that controls recording. In the present embodiment, the ROM 1010, the RAM 1020, and the CPU 1000 control the movement of the top cover unit 103, the driving of the fan 133, the driving of the heater 135, the inter-paper distance changing unit 40, and the recording medium type detecting unit 41, which will be described later. Yes.

  The fixing process of the recorded image on the recording medium in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4A shows the fixing device 11 and the casing 500 of the recording apparatus when image fixing is performed using a relatively high temperature hot air such as plain paper. FIG. 4B shows the fixing device 11 and the casing 500 of the recording apparatus when recording is performed on a recording medium that is not suitable for image fixing by high-temperature hot air such as glossy photographic paper. 4A and 4B schematically show the fixing device 11 and the casing 500 of the recording apparatus viewed from the side as in FIG.

  The casing 500 of the recording apparatus is provided with an outside air inlet 501 and a hot air outlet 502. The top cover unit 103 of the fixing device 11 is provided with a fixing device intake port 503, and the fixing case unit 104 is provided with a fixing device exhaust port 504. In the state of FIG. 4A, both the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are closed. Here, when a recording command for plain paper is transmitted from a host computer (not shown) to the recording apparatus, the heater 135 and the fan 133 are driven, and the air in the fixing device 11 circulates. Here, in particular, the air circulates clockwise as indicated by the arrows in FIG. Driving of the heater 135 and the fan 133 is controlled based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 145. When the detected temperature reaches about 80 ° C. suitable for image fixing of plain paper, recording by the recording apparatus is started, and the plain paper recorded by the recording head 7 is conveyed into the fixing device 11 and image fixing at a high temperature is performed. . Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the fixing device 11 has a fixing device intake port 503 (intake port) and a fixing device exhaust port 504 (exhaust port) as opening portions that can be opened and closed. Mouth) and are formed. The fixing device air inlet 503 is formed so that air from the outside of the fixing device 11 is supplied to the flow path in the fixing device 11. The fixing device exhaust port 504 is formed so as to discharge the air in the flow path of the fixing device 11 to the outside.

  Next, when a recording command for glossy photographic paper is transmitted to the recording apparatus, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 145 is compared with the appropriate temperature (threshold) of the glossy photographic paper. As a result of the comparison, if it is determined that the temperature in the fixing device 11 is high and the inside of the fixing device 11 needs to be cooled, the top cover unit 103 is raised as shown in FIG. At the same time, the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are opened to face the outside air introduction port 501 and the hot air exhaust port 502, respectively. As a result, the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 communicate with the outside of the ink jet recording apparatus, and the outside air of the recording apparatus is discharged from the fixing device intake port 503 through the outside air introduction port 501. 11 can be supplied inside. Further, it is possible to exhaust the warm air circulating in the flow path of the fixing device 11 from the warm air exhaust port 502 through the fixing device exhaust port 504 to the outside of the recording apparatus. As described above, when the temperature of the air detected by the temperature sensor 145 is equal to or higher than the threshold value for the temperature of the air determined for each type of the recording medium disposed in the fixing device 11, the fixing is performed. Unit inlet 503 and fuser outlet 504 are opened. At this time, the opening / closing operation of the fixing device exhaust port 504 is performed in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the fixing device intake port 503. Further, when the temperature of the air detected by the temperature sensor 145 is equal to or higher than a threshold value for the temperature of the air determined for each type of recording medium disposed in the fixing device 11, the temperature is higher than that. Recording is not possible. Therefore, in this embodiment, in such a state, recording by ejecting ink from the recording head is prohibited. As a result of the exchange of the warm air in the flow path of the fixing device 11 and the air outside the recording apparatus, the temperature of the air temperature in which the temperature of the air in the flow path is determined for each type of recording medium Recording occurs when the temperature drops to a lower temperature.

  Further, by driving the fan 133, the hot air in the fixing device 11 is discharged to the outside of the recording device, and the cold air outside the recording device is introduced into the fixing device 11, so that the temperature in the fixing device 11 rapidly decreases. To do. As described above, when the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are opened, the fan as the air blowing means is driven, so that the hot air in the flow path of the fixing device can be efficiently discharged. It can be replaced with cold air from outside. The fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 open in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the hot air in the fixing device 11, so that the hot air is exhausted more efficiently. At this time, the heater 135 can be turned off to reduce energy consumption. If the cooling rate is sufficiently high, the drive of the fan 133 can be turned off to further reduce energy consumption.

  The type of the recording medium 1 may be determined by the recording medium type detection unit 41 provided in the recording apparatus, in addition to the determination by the recording command transmitted from the host computer to the recording apparatus. As a result, it is possible to avoid a discrepancy in the type of recording medium due to a setting error of the user's printer driver. Appropriate temperatures that differ depending on each of the plurality of types of recording media 1 may be stored in a printer driver provided in the host computer, or may be stored in a storage unit (not shown) provided in the recording apparatus.

  In the fixing device 11 as the fixing unit of the present embodiment, when the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are opened, the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are closed. The cross-sectional area of the hot air flow path is larger than that at certain times. Therefore, when the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are opened, a large flow rate of air is supplied from the outside to the inside of the fixing device 11 so that a large flow rate of air can flow in the flow path. Also, a large flow of hot air can be exhausted from the fixing device exhaust port 504. Here, the temperature of the air taken into the fixing device 11 from the outside of the recording apparatus is lower than the temperature of the air circulating inside the fixing device 11. Therefore, the temperature of the air circulating in the fixing device 11 can be lowered by taking in air from the outside of the recording apparatus. Since the temperature of the air outside the fixing device 11 is lower than the warm air inside the flow channel, supplying a large amount of air to the flow channel inside the fixing device 11 allows the air to flow efficiently inside the fixing device 11. The temperature of warm air can be lowered. For this reason, when the temperature of the warm air inside the fixing device 11 is higher than a threshold value as a temperature suitable for fixing an image set for each recording medium, a large flow of air flows in the flow path in the fixing device 11. A hot air having a large flow rate is supplied from the outside and exhausted from the fixing device 11. Therefore, the temperature of the air flowing through the flow path in the fixing device 11 can be lowered to a temperature lower than a threshold value as a temperature suitable for fixing an image set for each recording medium in a short time. In this manner, the temperature of the air flowing through the flow path in the fixing device 11 can be adjusted to a temperature suitable for image fixing in a short time. Since the time required for adjusting the temperature of the air flowing through the flow path in the fixing device 11 can be shortened, the waiting time of the user for adjusting the temperature can be shortened. Thereby, the troublesomeness of the user can be reduced.

  When the fixing device intake / exhaust port 503 and the fixing device intake / exhaust port 504 are operated so as to be opened from the closed state, the flow path is connected to the fixing device intake / exhaust port 503 and the fixing device intake / exhaust port 504. The cross-sectional area is enlarged in conjunction with the operation of. At this time, the wall surface forming a part of the flow path moves so as to enlarge the cross-sectional area of the flow path. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the recording medium conveyance path 159 is increased by moving the top cover unit 103 upward. Further, when the fixing device intake / exhaust port 503 and the fixing device intake / exhaust port 504 are operated so as to be closed, the flow path is connected to the fixing device intake / exhaust port 503 and the fixing device intake / exhaust port. The wall surface forming a part of the flow path moves so that the cross-sectional area decreases in conjunction with the operation of 504. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the recording medium conveyance path 159 is reduced by moving the top cover unit 103 downward.

  When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 145 drops to a predetermined temperature set for each recording medium as a result of the exchange between the warm air inside the fixing device 11 and the air outside the recording device, recording by the recording device is performed. Is started. The recording medium 1 takes a certain time for a series of recording operations that are picked up from the paper feed cassette 2, pass through the U-turn conveyance unit 3, the LF roller 5, the recording head 7, and the paper discharge roller 9 and reach the fixing device 11. . Therefore, the recording operation is performed while the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 145 is slightly higher than the appropriate temperature of the glossy photographic paper in anticipation of a temperature drop while the recording medium is transported from the position of the recording head to the fixing device 11. You may decide to start. By doing this, it is possible to shorten the waiting time for waiting for the temperature of the hot air to fall to a predetermined temperature in the fixing device 11, and from when the recording medium reaches the fixing device 11 until recording is started. It is possible to shorten the time.

  The recording apparatus of the present embodiment includes the temperature sensor 145, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a recording apparatus that does not include a temperature sensor may be employed. In that case, in a recording apparatus that does not include the temperature sensor 145, the temperature in the fixing device 11 may be estimated from the driving conditions of the heater 135, the elapsed time since the top cover unit 103 is lifted, or the like. When it is estimated that the temperature in the fixing device 11 is higher than the estimated temperature and the appropriate temperature of the recording medium 1 on which recording is performed next, the top cover unit 103 is raised to fix the fixing device. The temperature of the warm air in 11 is lowered. Thereafter, when it is estimated that the temperature of the hot air has decreased to a temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the recording operation may be started.

  When the glossy photographic paper is conveyed to the fixing device 11, the temperature in the fixing device 11 is not more than the appropriate temperature, so that the resin substrate portion of the glossy photographic paper can be prevented from melting. Further, the warpage caused by the difference in the thermal expansion coefficient of each layer constituting the glossy photographic paper is suppressed within an allowable amount. When fixing the recorded image on the glossy photographic paper, the hot air blowing plate 117 that forms the upper surface of the recording medium conveyance path 159 is also lifted together with the top cover unit 103. Therefore, even if the glossy photographic paper is warped, the recording medium may come into contact with the hot air blowing plate 117 to contaminate the recorded image, or the recording medium may be caught by the hot air blowing plate 117 and a jam may occur. Is suppressed. As a result, the recording medium is discharged out of the fixing device 11 satisfactorily.

  When the leading end of the recording medium 1 is conveyed into the fixing device 11, the central portion of the recording medium 1 is still at a position corresponding to the recording head 7, and the recording medium is still in a recording state. If the tip of the recording medium 1 comes into contact with the wall surface in the fixing device 11 in this state, the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium 1 decreases there, and the landing accuracy of ink droplets during recording by the recording head 7 is disturbed. there is a possibility. As a result, the quality of the recorded image may deteriorate. However, when the present invention is adopted, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from being exposed to excessively high temperature hot air. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording medium from warping after the drying process of the recording medium is completed. Accordingly, a decrease in the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium due to the warp of the recording medium can be suppressed, and accordingly, a decrease in the quality of the recorded image due to a decrease in the conveyance accuracy can be suppressed.

  The operation of the recording apparatus is stopped until the temperature of the hot air in the fixing device 11 is lowered to a predetermined temperature and the recording operation is started. When the temperature of the hot air in the fixing device 11 is lowered to a predetermined temperature, the fact may be displayed on a display unit of the recording apparatus or a printer driver provided in the host computer to notify the user. Further, when the user changes the type of the recording medium 1 by operating the printer driver or the like, a confirmation display such as “It takes about XX minutes to start recording, will you execute recording?” May be displayed.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the entire recording apparatus as viewed from the side. FIG. 5 shows the recording apparatus when the top cover unit 103 is raised as the fixing device 11. An air inlet 503 and an air outlet 504 of the fixing device 11 are opened on the side surface of the fixing device 11. Yes. The fixing device intake port 503 faces the outside air introduction port 501, and air outside the recording apparatus is introduced into the fixing device 11 as indicated by an arrow.

  Further, an exhaust duct 505 is connected to a position facing the fixing device exhaust port 504. The exhaust duct 505 extends from the position facing the fixing device exhaust port 504 to the outside of the recording apparatus via the hot air exhaust port 502, and the hot air discharged from the exhaust port 504 passes through the exhaust duct 505. Thus, it can be discharged outside the recording apparatus. Accordingly, the warm air exhausted from the fixing device 11 is discharged to the outside of the recording apparatus as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5 through the inside of the exhaust duct 505. As a result, the hot air is discharged to a position away from the operation unit where the user performs operations such as taking the recording medium 1 discharged to the discharge tray 17 and replenishing the recording medium 1 to the paper feed cassette 2. A hot air exhaust port 502 of the exhaust duct 505 can be disposed. Therefore, handling of the recording apparatus can be facilitated.

  6A and 6B schematically show the carriage and top cover unit lifting mechanism. The carriage 19 on which the recording head 7 is placed is guided by the guide shaft 20 and the guide rail 21 and scans in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). Further, the recording head 7 is configured such that the gap G between the recording head 7 and the recording medium 1 can be changed according to the type of the recording medium 1 and the recording mode. Specifically, when recording on plain paper or the like, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is possible to increase the distance between the recording head 7 and the recording medium. It is preferable in order to avoid contact with. On the other hand, when recording on glossy photographic paper or the like, as shown in FIG. 6B, the distance between the recording head 7 and the recording medium should be narrowed for high-definition recording. Is suitable. As described above, in the present embodiment, the ink jet recording apparatus includes the inter-paper distance changing unit that changes the distance between the position where the ejection port is formed in the recording head 7 and the recording medium.

  Next, a recording apparatus for shifting from a state when recording plain paper or the like as shown in FIG. 6A to a state when recording glossy photographic paper or the like as shown in FIG. 6B. The operation in will be described.

  A cam gear 22 that is disposed coaxially with the guide shaft 20 and that can displace the cam plate 23 by pressing the cam plate 23 is attached to the guide shaft 20. The cam surface of the cam gear 22 is in contact with the cam plate 23 while changing the distance between the center of the guide shaft 20 and the contact portion. Further, since the guide plate 23 is fixed to the main body side of the recording apparatus, the height of the guide plate 23 with respect to the recording medium is constant. Thereby, the carriage 19 is displaced by changing the positions of the shafts of the guide shaft 20 and the cam gear 22 with respect to the guide plate 23, and the height of the carriage 19 is changed. Accordingly, the height from the recording medium to the carriage 19 and the recording head 7 is changed. The contact surface of the carriage 19 with the guide rail 21 is supported so as to be movable in the height direction.

  When changing from the state shown in FIG. 6A to the state shown in FIG. 6B, the cam gear 22 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. . When the cam gear 22 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 6A while the carriage 19 is biased downward, the cam plate contact surface moves, and the guide plate 23, the guide shaft 20, and the cam gear 22 are moved. The distance from the center position of the axis becomes shorter. As a result, the guide shaft 20 and the cam gear 22 move downward, and the carriage 19 moves downward. As a result, the gap G between the recording head 7 and the recording medium 1 is shorter than that for plain paper, and the distance is suitable for recording glossy photographic paper.

  The rotational drive of the cam gear 22 is transmitted to the rack 25 provided to be connected to the top cover unit 103 of the fixing device 11 by the gear train 24. The rotation by the gear train 24 is converted into a displacement in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the recording medium by the rack 25, whereby the top cover unit 103 can be displaced in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of the recording medium. When each gear of the cam gear 22 and the gear train 24 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 6A, the rack 25 rises, and the top cover unit 103 connected to the rack 25 rises accordingly. As a result, as described above, the intake air to the fixing device 11 and the hot air in the fixing device 11 are exhausted.

  The recording medium in the fixing device 11 is changed from a recording medium having a high temperature threshold value to a low recording medium. As a result, the temperature of the air in the flow path of the fixing device 11 detected by the temperature sensor 145 determines the recording medium. There are times when the temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold value for the air temperature set for each. In such a case, the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 operate so as to change from a closed state to an opened state as shown in FIG. At this time, the inter-paper distance is adjusted in conjunction with the operations of the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504. At this time, when the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are operated from the opened state to the closed state, they are linked with the operations of the fixing unit intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504. Then, the wall surface forming a part of the flow path moves so that the cross-sectional area of the flow path becomes large. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the fixing device 11 increases as the top cover unit 103 moves upward.

  When recording on plain paper again after the glossy photographic paper has been recorded, the cam gear 22 is rotated from the state of FIG. 6B in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. As a result, the carriage 19 is raised and the top cover unit 103 is lowered. As a result, the position of the carriage 19 and the position of the top cover unit 103 of the fixing device 11 return to the plain paper recording state shown in FIG.

  Depending on the type of the recording medium 1, the appropriate temperature may be 50 ° C., for example, and image fixing with warm air may be required although it is not as high as plain paper. In this case, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 145 reaches a predetermined temperature after exhausting, the top cover unit 103 is lowered to close the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504. At this time, low energy may be supplied to the heater 135 to drive it, and the fan 133 may be driven to circulate low temperature hot air to the recording medium conveyance path 159.

  In such a recording apparatus that performs recording on the recording medium 1, recording is performed in a state where the height of the recording head is set to a height suitable for the type of the recording medium and the top cover unit 103 is lowered. Anyway. At this time, the top cover unit 103 may fix the recorded image on the recording medium in a state where the intake port 503 and the exhaust port 504 are partially opened according to the type of the recording medium. By fixing the recorded image on the recording medium in this way, the recorded image can be fixed at a temperature suitable for each type of recording medium. At this time, it is necessary to drive the lifting mechanism of the top cover unit 103 and the lifting mechanism of the carriage 19 separately. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the lifting mechanism of the carriage 19 and the lifting mechanism of the top cover unit 103 are connected via a delay mechanism or the like, or independent lifting mechanisms are provided. Anyway.

  Further, the height of the top cover unit 103 may be set in a plurality of stages according to the type of the recording medium 1. It is desirable to set the appropriate temperature low for the recording medium 1 that is likely to warp or has a relatively strict tolerance for recording disturbance. On the other hand, it is desirable to set the appropriate temperature high for the recording medium 1 that is less likely to warp or has a relatively moderate degree of allowable recording disturbance. When recording on the recording medium 1 having a relatively low proper temperature, the top cover unit 103 is raised high, and the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are opened widely. When recording on the recording medium 1 having a relatively high appropriate temperature, the top cover unit 103 is lowered and the openings of the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are narrowed. Since the exhaust rate of the hot air in the fixing unit 11 changes according to the opening ratio of the fixing unit intake port 503 and the fixing unit exhaust port 504, the time until the temperature in the fixing unit 11 reaches an appropriate temperature is shortened. In addition, the input energy to the heater 135 can be suppressed. In addition, the height of the top cover unit 103 is set according to the degree of warpage and the permissible degree of recording disturbance, so that it is possible to reliably avoid recording disturbance and jamming when warping occurs, and to apply to glossy photographic paper as necessary. Also in recording, image fixing with warm air can be performed. Alternatively, an intermediate position may be provided in which the hot air blowing plate 117 that forms the upper surface of the recording medium conveyance path 159 remains raised while the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 in the top cover unit 103 are closed. it can. As a result, even if the recording medium 1 is slightly warped, it is possible to avoid recording medium contamination, jamming, image distortion, and the like due to warping occurring there.

  Further, even in the same type of recording medium 1, the opening ratio of the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 in the fixing device 11 and the area of the flow path in the fixing device 11 can be set independently. May be. For example, when the amount of ink adhering to the recording medium 1 is large due to the recorded image, the fixing ratio of the fixing device intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 is reduced compared to the case where the ink adhering amount is small, so I do. In this case, the warp of the recording medium 1 increases. However, in such a case, the height of the hot air blowing plate 117 that forms the upper surface of the recording medium conveyance path 159 is set higher than when the amount of ink adhering to the recording medium is small. By setting the height of the hot air blowing plate 117 in this way, the contact of the recording medium 1 with the hot air blowing plate 117 can be suppressed even if the generated warp is large.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment ink jet recording apparatus will be described. In addition, about the part comprised similarly to said 1st embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected in a figure, description is abbreviate | omitted, and only a different part is demonstrated.

  The ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment includes a closing unit that can be opened and closed between the recording medium guiding unit and the hot air generating unit. The housing 500 is provided with two ventilation openings 507, and the top cover unit 103 of the fixing device 11 is provided with two medium conveyance path ventilation openings 508 at opposite positions. A closing portion 506 is provided at the lower portion of the top cover unit 103. In the second embodiment, the temperature sensor 145 is disposed in the recording medium conveyance path 159 in order to detect the temperature more accurately because the temperatures differ when the recording medium guiding unit and the hot air generating means are shut off. ing.

  FIG. 7A shows a case where recording is performed on plain paper or the like. The medium conveyance path ventilation port 508 is closed. Hot air circulates in the direction indicated by the arrow in the fixing device 11 to fix the image.

  Next, when it is determined that the fixing device 11 needs to be cooled, the top cover unit 103 is raised as shown in FIG. 7B, and the two medium conveyance path ventilation ports 508 (openings) are opened. Each moves to a position corresponding to the vent 507. At the same time, the closing portion 506 is in contact with the wall surface forming the flow path in which the fan 133 and the heater 135 are arranged, and the hot air generating means including the fan 133 and the heater 135 is disconnected from the recording medium conveyance path 159. To do.

  In the present embodiment, the flow path is divided into a first region 60 in which the fan 133 and the heater 135 are disposed, and a second region 61 in which the recording medium is disposed. Thus, the closing part 506 which can close a flow path is arrange | positioned at the flow path so that a flow path may be isolate | separated into a 1st area | region and a 2nd area | region. When the medium conveyance path ventilation port 508 is in an opened state, the medium conveyance path ventilation port 508 is formed in the second region 61 in the flow path in the fixing device 11 and the closing portion closes the flow path. . As a result, the warm air in the recording medium conveyance path 159 is more efficiently ventilated with the cold air outside the recording apparatus through the medium conveyance path ventilation port 508 and the ventilation port 507 without passing through the heater 135. Accordingly, the temperature of the recording medium conveyance path 159 decreases more rapidly. As a result, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 145 decreases to a predetermined temperature, the recording operation by the recording apparatus is started.

  In the present embodiment, a temperature sensor 145 that detects the temperature of the air inside the flow path is provided inside the second region 61 on the side of the flow path where the recording medium is disposed. Therefore, the temperature of the air blown to the image on the recording medium for fixing the image on the recording medium can be measured at a position closer to the recording medium. When the temperature of the air detected by the temperature sensor 145 is equal to or higher than a threshold value for the temperature of the air determined for each type of recording medium disposed in the fixing device 11, the fixing device The intake port 503 and the fixing device exhaust port 504 are opened. Accordingly, since the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 145 is close to the temperature of the air actually blown to the recording medium, the temperature of the air in the fixing device 11 is adjusted based on the more accurate temperature of the air. .

  In this embodiment, the medium conveyance path ventilation port 508 and the ventilation port 507 can be widened, and only the recording medium conveyance path 159 is opened, so that the recording medium conveyance path 159 can be rapidly cooled. While the closing portion 506 closes the flow path, the fan 133 and the heater 135 can be turned off, so that the effect of reducing energy consumption is also achieved. At this time, the entrance or discharge port of the recording medium conveyance path 159 to the fixing device 11 may be opened widely to promote ventilation from this portion.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the recording head 7 is placed on the carriage 19 on the upstream side of the entrance to the fixing device 11 in the recording medium conveyance path 159. Ink is ejected while scanning in the direction. At this time, even when the carriage 19 is scanned and the recording medium has not yet reached the fixing unit 11, the entrance of the recording medium conveyance path 159 to the fixing unit 11 is opened to open the inside of the recording medium conveyance path 159. It is also possible to discharge the warm air faster.

  Further, since the fixing device 11 is hermetically sealed by the closing portion 506 and has a heat insulating structure, cooling of high-temperature air in the vicinity of the hot air generating means is suppressed, and heat storage is maintained. In this state, when recording is performed again on the recording medium 1 on which image fixing is performed at a high temperature such as plain paper, the top cover unit 103 is lowered to close the medium conveyance path ventilation port 508 and simultaneously open the closing portion 506. . When the fan 133 and the heater 135 are driven, hot air in the vicinity of the hot air generating means that has not been cooled down is circulated to the recording medium conveyance path 159. Since the warm air in the vicinity of the warm air generating means having a relatively large volume is sent to the recording medium conveyance path 159 having a small volume, the temperature of the recording medium conveyance path 159 is rapidly increased even if the driving energy supplied to the heater 135 is small. Can be raised. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 145 rises to a predetermined temperature, recording by the recording device is started. Similar to the case described in the first embodiment, the time until the start of recording can be further shortened by starting the recording operation while the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 145 is slightly lower than the appropriate temperature of plain paper. Is possible.

  Although the present invention has been described above using the two embodiments, the description contents of the respective examples may be applied in combination. For example, in the recording apparatus of the first embodiment, the temperature sensor 145 may be disposed in the recording medium conveyance path 159, or the carriage 19 may be scanned when the top cover unit 103 is raised. In the recording apparatus of the second embodiment, the temperature in the fixing device 11 may be estimated without providing the temperature sensor 145, or the warm air may be discharged via the exhaust duct 505. It is obvious that the effects of the present invention can be obtained even in these combinations.

  In the present specification, “recording” is used not only for forming significant information such as characters and graphics but also for any case. It also represents the case where images, patterns, patterns, etc. are widely formed on a recording medium, or the recording medium is processed, regardless of whether it is manifested so that it can be perceived by human eyes. And

  The “recording device” includes a device having a printing function such as a printer, a printer multifunction device, a copying machine, and a facsimile device, and a manufacturing device that manufactures an article using an ink jet technique.

  “Recording medium” means not only paper used in general recording apparatuses but also a wide range of materials that can accept ink, such as cloth, plastic film, metal plate, glass, ceramics, wood, leather, etc. Shall.

  Furthermore, “ink” (sometimes referred to as “liquid”) should be interpreted widely as in the definition of “recording”. By being applied on the recording medium, it can be used for formation of images, patterns, patterns, etc., processing of the recording medium, or ink processing (for example, solidification or insolubilization of the colorant in the ink applied to the recording medium). It shall represent a liquid.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Fixing device 100 Inkjet recording device 133 Fan 135 Heater 503 Fixing device intake port 504 Fixing device exhaust port

Claims (10)

A recording means for recording by applying ink to a recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing a recorded image of a recording medium recorded by the recording means,
The fixing unit includes a heating unit for heating the internal air and a blower unit for moving the internal air along the flow path, and the air heated by the heating unit is transferred to the recording medium. It is possible to fix the image by blowing air to the part where the recorded image is formed,
The fixing unit has an opening that can be opened and closed in the flow path.
The ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the flow path has a larger cross-sectional area when the opening is open than when the opening is closed.   The opening includes an air inlet that can be opened and closed when air from outside the fixing unit is supplied to the flow path, and an air exhaust that can discharge and open the air inside the flow path to the outside. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the opening / closing operation of the exhaust port is performed in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the intake port. When the opening is operated so as to be opened from the closed state, the flow path is enlarged in cross-section in conjunction with the operation of the opening,
When the operation is performed so that the opening is closed from the opened state, a part of the flow path is formed so that the cross-sectional area of the flow path is reduced in conjunction with the operation of the opening. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wall surface to be formed moves.   5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blower is driven when the opening is in an opened state. 6. The flow path is provided with temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the air inside the flow path,
When the temperature of the air detected by the temperature detection unit is a temperature equal to or higher than a threshold value for the temperature of the air determined for each type of recording medium disposed inside the fixing unit, the opening portion The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is opened. The flow path is provided with temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the air inside the flow path,
When the temperature of the air detected by the temperature detecting means is equal to or higher than a threshold value for the air temperature determined for each type of recording medium disposed in the fixing means, the recording means 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein recording is prohibited. The flow path is provided with temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the air inside the flow path,
The recording medium arranged in the fixing unit is changed from a recording medium having a high temperature threshold to a low recording medium, and the temperature of the air detected by the temperature detecting unit is the temperature of the air set for each recording medium. When the temperature is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the opening is operated from a closed state to an opened state,
When the opening is operated so as to be opened from the closed state, a part of the flow path is set so that the cross-sectional area of the flow path increases in conjunction with the operation of the opening. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wall surface to be formed moves. The flow path has a shape that circulates so that the air is blown back to the blower unit after the blower blows air to the site where the recording image of the recording medium is formed.
The flow path is closed so that the flow path is divided into a first area where the air blowing means and the heating means are disposed and a second area where the recording medium is disposed. A closure that can be placed,
The opening is formed in the second region of the flow path when the opening is open, and the closing portion closes the flow path. The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of the above. Inside the second region in the flow path, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the air inside the flow path is provided,
When the temperature of the air detected by the temperature detection unit is a temperature equal to or higher than a threshold value for the temperature of the air determined for each type of recording medium disposed inside the fixing unit, the opening portion The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is opened.

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