JP2014172326A - Recording device and recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device which can stably stack a recorded medium on a stack part without degrading a recording speed.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: a recording head 9 which can record on a recorded medium P; a conveying mechanism R which conveys the recorded medium P; a stack part 17 which can stack the recorded medium P; and a discharge roller Rd which sandwiches the recorded medium P conveyed by the conveying mechanism R and discharges from a sandwiching position to the stack part 17. A discharge speed v2 of the discharge roller Rd in discharging the recorded medium P by the discharge roller Rd is lower than a conveying speed v1 of the conveying mechanism R when the recorded medium P passes through a recording region by the recording head 9. The conveying speed of the conveying mechanism is maintained when the recorded medium passes through the recording region by the recording head and when the recorded medium P is discharged by the discharge roller Rd.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a recording method including a stack unit capable of stacking recording media on which recording has been performed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus including a stack unit capable of stacking recording media on which recording has been performed has been used. Among such recording apparatuses, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a recording apparatus that can reduce the discharge speed of a recording medium when discharging the recording medium to a stack unit.
On the other hand, increasing the recording speed of the recording apparatus continues to be requested by users, and the recording speed of the recording apparatus is increasing.

JP 2006-168877 A

As described above, since the recording speed of the recording apparatus is increasing, the conveyance speed of the recording apparatus is also increasing. For this reason, when the recording medium on which the recording has been performed is stacked on the stack portion, the recording medium is moved beyond a predetermined position because the discharging speed at the time of discharging the recording medium is too high. It is difficult to stably stack the stack portion. As described above, there is a demand for stably stacking the recording medium on the stack without lowering the recording speed of the recording apparatus or lowering the throughput accompanying the lowering of the recording speed.
The recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not recognize such a problem. Therefore, although the recording medium discharge speed when discharging the recording medium to the stack portion can be reduced, whether the recording medium conveyance speed at that time is also reduced at the same time. There is no description. In other words, there is no disclosure of a configuration that allows a recording medium to be stably stacked on the stack without reducing the recording speed of the recording apparatus.

Further, when the recording speed of the recording apparatus increases, the recording medium tends to curl immediately after recording. For this reason, when the recording medium immediately after recording is stacked on the stack part, the recording medium curls in the stack part, and from this point of view, the recording medium can be stably stacked on the stack part. It has become difficult.
The recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not described in this respect.
Thus, in order to stably stack the recording medium on the stack without reducing the recording speed, the high recording speed is maintained, the discharge speed of the recording medium to the stack is slowed, and the recording medium is There is a need to make the time to stack as long as possible. In order to lengthen the time until the recording medium is stacked, it may be possible to lengthen the transport path of the recording medium on which recording has been performed, but it is often difficult to enlarge the recording apparatus.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of stably stacking a recording medium on a stack unit without reducing the recording speed.

  A recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems includes a recording head capable of recording on a recording medium, a transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium, and a stack capable of stacking the recording medium. And a discharge roller that sandwiches the recording medium transported by the transport mechanism and discharges the recording medium from the sandwiching position to the stack unit, and the discharge roller at the time of discharging the recording medium by the discharge roller The discharging speed is slower than the conveying speed of the conveying mechanism when the recording medium passes through the recording area by the recording head, and the conveying speed of the conveying mechanism is the recording area of the recording medium by the recording head. Is maintained when the recording medium passes and when the recording medium is discharged by the discharge roller.

Here, the “conveyance mechanism” means a conveyance mechanism that conveys a recording medium in a recording area by the recording head in a moving path of the recording medium, and a recording medium in an area other than the recording area (non-recording area). In addition to being configured as a single unit, the transport mechanism for transporting the image includes a configuration configured as a separate body, for example, a configuration having different drive sources.
In addition, the “clamping position” means a clamping position by a discharge roller provided on the most downstream side in the discharge direction of the recording medium when the recording apparatus includes a plurality of the discharge rollers.
The “conveying speed” means a speed including a variation from a strict constant speed. For example, the average value of the conveyance speed by the conveyance mechanism during the time for recording on the entire surface of the recording medium by the recording head can be used. Although there is a possibility that the recording medium does not move at an ideal speed due to slip between the recording medium and the transport mechanism, the transport speed is an actual speed at which the recording medium moves.
The “discharge speed” means a speed including a variation from a strict constant speed. Further, “at the time of discharging” means a time when the rear end of the recording medium is deviated from the nipping position (nip position) of the recording medium of the discharging roller. The discharge speed is also the speed at which the recording medium actually moves.

  According to this aspect, the discharge speed at the time of discharge of the recording medium by the discharge roller is made slower than the transport speed, and the discharge of the recording medium by the discharge roller is performed by the transport mechanism. Maintain the recording medium conveyance speed. For this reason, it is possible to lengthen the time from recording on the recording medium to stacking the recording medium by maintaining a high recording speed and slowing down the ejection speed when ejecting the recording medium to the stack section. it can. Therefore, the recording medium can be stably stacked on the stack portion without reducing the recording speed.

  A recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the recording apparatus includes a control unit that controls driving of the discharge roller, and the control unit is configured such that the recording medium is the transport mechanism. And the discharge roller, the drive of the discharge roller is controlled so that the speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller becomes the transport speed, and the recording medium is In a state where the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller and cannot be moved by the transport mechanism, the discharge roller is configured so that the speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller is changed from the transport speed to the discharge speed. The drive is controlled, the recording medium is discharged from the discharge roller, and the next recording medium is moved by the discharge roller. In a state where the recording medium is not positioned, the speed at which the next recording medium is moved by the discharge roller until the next recording medium is moved by the discharge roller is the transport speed. The drive of the discharge roller is controlled so as to become.

  According to this aspect, after the recording medium is discharged from the discharge roller, the speed at which the recording medium is moved is returned from the discharge speed to the transport speed. Since it is possible to reduce the speed of moving the recording medium immediately before the recording medium is discharged from the discharge roller, it is possible to suppress a decrease in throughput particularly when recording on a plurality of recording media. And the discharge speed can be effectively reduced.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the recording apparatus includes a control unit that controls driving of the discharge roller, and a detection sensor for the recording medium. The control unit drives the discharge roller based on detection of the recording medium by the detection sensor so that a speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller is changed from the transport speed to the discharge speed. It is characterized by controlling.

Here, the “recording medium detection sensor” means a sensor capable of detecting that the recording medium has been transported to a predetermined position, for example, detecting the leading edge or the trailing edge of the recording medium. Possible optical sensors and the like.
According to this aspect, it is possible to control the driving of the discharge roller with high accuracy based on the detection result by the detection sensor.
The detection sensor is preferably provided on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium in the conveyance mechanism, but is not particularly limited.

  The recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the recording apparatus includes a control unit that controls driving of the discharge roller, and a gate that opens and closes the recording target. A gate unit capable of sending a medium to the transport mechanism, and the control unit moves the recording medium by the discharge roller based on an operation of opening the gate by the gate unit. The drive of the discharge roller is controlled so that the discharge speed is changed from the speed.

According to this aspect, it is possible to control the driving of the discharge roller in response to the operation of opening the gate by the gate unit capable of sending the recording medium to the transport mechanism. That is, it is possible to omit providing a member such as a sensor necessary for controlling the driving of the discharge roller.
In addition, as the said gate part, a gate roller etc. can be used, for example, and opening and closing of a gate can be performed by rotation and a stop of a gate roller.

  The recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the transport mechanism includes a transport roller for sandwiching the recording medium. A controller that controls the driving of the discharge roller, wherein the control unit uses the discharge roller from a holding position of the recording medium by a transport roller provided on the most downstream side in the transport direction of the recording medium by the transport mechanism. In the movement path of the recording medium to the nipping position of the recording medium, a speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller at a position where the rear end of the recording medium exceeds the midpoint of the movement path is The driving of the discharge roller is controlled so as to achieve the discharge speed.

In the moving path, it is desirable to reduce the speed from the transport speed to the discharge speed at a position close to the discharge roller. When recording is continuously performed on a plurality of recording media, the recording medium on which recording is performed first and the recording medium on which recording is performed next are transported at a predetermined interval. This interval is narrowed when the recording medium is discharged because the speed at which the recording medium is moved is slower than when the recording medium is transported. When this interval disappears, the trailing edge of the recording medium on which recording has been performed first overlaps with the leading edge of the recording medium on which recording has been performed next, which causes a stack failure when stacking. For this reason, it is necessary to prevent this interval from being lost. In order to effectively reduce the discharge speed so that this interval does not disappear, it is necessary to have a configuration in which the speed from the transport speed is reduced to the discharge speed at a position where the rear end of the recording medium is close to the discharge roller. . In the configuration in which the speed is reduced from the transport speed to the discharge speed at a position far from the discharge roller, the distance that the recording medium moves becomes longer due to the discharge speed, and if the discharge speed is too low, the interval is lost. For this reason, the discharge speed cannot be reduced so much.
According to this aspect, the drive of the discharge roller is controlled so that the discharge speed is reached at a position where the rear end of the recording medium exceeds the middle point of the movement path. That is, the position reaching the discharge speed is a position close to the discharge roller. For this reason, it can be set as the structure which reduces the speed from the said conveyance speed to the said discharge speed in the position near the said discharge roller, and it becomes possible to fully reduce this discharge speed. That is, it can be suppressed that the recording medium is moved beyond a predetermined position and it is difficult to stably stack the recording medium on the stack portion.

  In the recording apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the transport mechanism has an endless belt and continuously records on the plurality of recording media. In this case, the endless belt is continuously driven from the start of recording to the end of recording.

Specific examples of the “endless belt” include, but are not limited to, a glue belt and an electrostatic adsorption belt, which support the recording medium by attaching the recording medium to the belt. “Continuous drive” refers to driving an endless belt at a constant speed regardless of whether a recording medium passes through a recording area by a recording head or an interval between a plurality of recording media. In addition to driving at a speed of, this means including driving at a roughly constant speed including variations. “Continuous recording” may include at least the case where recording is performed on a plurality of recording media P in one recording job for the recording apparatus.
According to this aspect, by continuously driving the endless belt, it is possible to improve the conveyance stability of the recording medium as compared with the case where the endless belt is intermittently driven.

  The recording apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the recording head includes a plurality of nozzles that eject ink in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the recording medium. The line heads are provided side by side.

  A recording apparatus including a line head as a recording head can perform recording at high speed. For this reason, it is possible to stack the recording medium stably on the stack portion without particularly reducing the recording speed.

  A recording method according to an eighth aspect of the present invention includes a recording head capable of recording on a recording medium, a transport mechanism that transports the recording medium, a stack unit that can stack the recording medium, and the transport mechanism. A recording method that includes a discharge roller that sandwiches the transported recording medium and discharges the recording medium from a sandwiching position to the stack unit, wherein the recording medium is discharged by the discharge roller. The discharge speed of the discharge roller is slower than the transfer speed of the transfer mechanism when passing through the recording area by the recording head, and the transfer speed of the transfer mechanism when discharging by the discharge roller passes through the recording area. It is characterized by maintaining the transport speed of the transport mechanism when performing.

  According to this aspect, the discharge speed at the time of discharge of the recording medium by the discharge roller is made slower than the transport speed, and the discharge of the recording medium by the discharge roller is performed by the transport mechanism. Maintain the recording medium conveyance speed. For this reason, it is possible to maintain a high recording speed, to slow down the discharging speed when discharging the recording medium to the stack portion, and to increase the time until the recording medium is stacked, without reducing the recording speed. The recording medium can be stably stacked on the stack portion.

1 is a schematic side view of a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. For explaining the conveyance speed and discharge speed of the recording medium in the recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and at which position the speed at which the recording medium is moved is decelerated from the conveyance speed to the discharge speed. Figure. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a recording method according to the embodiment of the invention.

[Example 1] (FIGS. 1 to 3)
Hereinafter, a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Initially, the outline | summary of the recording device 1 which concerns on Example 1 of this invention is demonstrated. The recording apparatus 1 of this embodiment is a recording apparatus having an electrostatic adsorption endless belt as a transport mechanism for the recording medium P. However, it is not limited to such a configuration.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.

  The recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a tray 2 that holds a recording medium P for recording. The recording medium P picked up by a pickup roller Rp is transported from the tray 2 to the endless belt 4 by a transport roller R. Thus, the transfer path 3 is transferred in the transfer direction A. Here, the transport roller R transports the recording medium P while being sandwiched between the driving roller and the driven roller.

The recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can continuously record and record a single-sheet type recording medium P. When continuously recording on the recording medium P, the gate roller Rg that also serves as a transport roller opens and closes (rotates and stops) so that the distance between the recording media P becomes a constant interval, and the endless belt 4 To the recording medium P. That is, the gate roller Rg has a role as a gate unit that can send the recording medium P to the transport mechanism in the recording apparatus 1 by the operation of opening the gate.
Further, an optical sensor S1 as a detection sensor that can detect that the recording medium P is sent to the endless belt 4 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction A of the gate roller Rg.

The recording medium P sent to the endless belt 4 is pressed by the pressure roller 7 and adheres to the endless belt 4. The recording medium P attached to and supported by the endless belt 4 is conveyed by the recording head 9 which is a line head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged in a direction intersecting the conveying direction A while being conveyed in the conveying direction A. Recorded.
Note that the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is a recording apparatus that includes a line head capable of recording with black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink, but is not limited to such a configuration. A recording apparatus that performs reciprocating scanning of the recording head may be used, or a recording apparatus that can use inks of other colors may be used.

The transport mechanism in the recording area of the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment charges the electrostatic adsorption endless belt 4 by the charging roller 8 and rotates the endless belt 4 by the rollers 5 and 6 to transport the recording medium P. It is the structure to do.
In addition, if a recording medium attached to an endless belt is used to support the recording medium, curling of the recording medium while the recording medium is attached to the belt can be suppressed. Is preferable because it can suppress interference between the image forming apparatus and the constituent members of the recording apparatus. Another example of the endless belt is a glue belt, which can also be preferably used.

  The recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to record on both sides as well as on one side of the recording medium P by the reversing mechanism 10. When recording on both sides of the recording medium P, the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment moves the guide portion G1 that can change the transport direction A of the recording medium P after the recording on one side of the recording medium P is completed. As a result, the recording medium P passes through the transport path 11. Then, the recording medium P on which recording on one side is completed is once stacked on the stack unit 12 and returned to the transport path 3 through the transport path 13 so that the back surface on one side faces the recording head 9. Be transported.

The recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can stack the recording medium P, on which recording by the recording head 9 has been completed, on the tray 15 via the conveyance path 14 and also stack on the tray 17 via the conveyance path 16. be able to. That is, when recording on one side of the recording medium P, the transport path 16 has a role of a discharge mechanism that reverses and discharges the recording medium P recorded by the recording head 9.
Note that switching between the stack on the tray 15 and the stack on the tray 17 is performed by moving the guide portion G2.

  In the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a transport roller Re that is a transport roller provided on the most downstream side in the transport direction A when transporting the recording medium P is provided on the transport path 16, and recording is performed on the tray 17. A discharge roller Rd for discharging the medium P is provided. Here, the length in the conveyance path 16 from the conveyance roller Re to the discharge roller Rd is L. Further, an optical sensor S2 as a detection sensor that can detect that the recording medium P is sent to the discharge roller Rd is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction A of the transport roller Re. Then, based on the detection of the recording medium P by the optical sensor S2, the rotation speed of the discharge roller Rd is changed so that the speed at which the recording medium P is moved is changed from a predetermined transport speed to a predetermined discharge speed. The

In the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the recording area conveyance mechanism has an endless belt 4, and the recording area conveyance mechanism has a conveyance roller R. That is, a transport mechanism that transports the recording medium P in the recording area and a transport mechanism that transports the recording medium P in the non-recording area are configured as separate bodies. The transport mechanism that transports the recording medium P in the recording area and the transport mechanism that transports the recording medium P in the non-recording area may be configured integrally.
In the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the conveyance speed is constant in both the recording area and the recording area, but the conveyance speeds in these areas may be different. In the case of the recording apparatus having such a configuration, the discharge speed is made slower than the transport speed of the recording medium P when passing through the recording area.

Next, the electrical configuration of the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.
The control unit 21 is provided with a CPU 22 that controls the entire recording apparatus 1. The CPU 22 is connected via a system bus 23 to a ROM 24 that stores various control programs executed by the CPU 22 and a RAM 25 that can temporarily store data. The CPU 22 is connected to a head driving unit 26 for driving the recording head 9 via the system bus 23.

Further, the CPU 22 drives the motor for driving the pickup roller motor 18, the gate roller motor 19, the discharge roller motor 20, the transport roller motor 28 and the endless belt driving roller motor 40 via the system bus 23. The unit 27 is connected. Here, the transport roller motor 28 is a motor for driving the transport roller R including the transport roller Re provided on the most downstream side in the transport direction A.
Further, the CPU 22 includes optical sensors S1 and S2, a monitor 31 and a control panel 32 provided in the recording apparatus 1, an interface 30 for inputting recording data and the like from an external device such as a PC, and data And an input / output unit 29 for transmitting and receiving signals.

  In a state where the recording medium P is in a position where the recording medium P is moved by both the transport roller Re and the discharge roller Rd, the control unit 21 controls the discharge roller Rd so that the speed at which the recording medium P is moved becomes the transport speed. Control the drive. Then, in a state where the recording medium P is in a position where it can be moved only by the discharge roller Rd, the driving of the discharge roller Rd is controlled so that the speed at which the recording medium P is moved becomes the discharge speed from the transport speed. Then, after the recording medium P is discharged from the discharge roller Rd, the driving of the discharge roller Rd is controlled so that the speed at which the recording medium P is moved returns from the discharge speed to the transport speed.

  Further, the control unit 21 controls the discharge speed by the discharge roller Rd to be slower than the transport speed when passing through the recording area by the recording head 9, and at the time of discharging the recording medium P by the discharge roller Rd. Also, the driving speed of the transport roller R including the transport roller Re (the transport speed of the recording medium by the transport roller R) is controlled to be maintained.

  Further, in response to the detection of the recording medium P by the optical sensor S2, the control unit 21 controls the driving of the discharge roller Rd so that the speed at which the recording medium P is moved becomes the discharge speed from the transport speed. . Also, the driving of the discharge roller Rd can be controlled in response to the detection of the recording medium P by the optical sensor S1. Further, in response to the operation of opening the gate by the gate roller Rg (rotation of the gate roller Rg), the control unit 21 moves the recording medium P so that the speed at which the recording medium P is moved becomes the discharge speed from the transport speed. It is also possible to control the drive of.

  Further, the controller 21 controls the endless belt driving roller motor 40 so as to continuously drive the endless belt 4 from the start of recording to the end of recording when recording is continuously performed on a plurality of recording media P.

Next, the conveyance speed of the recording medium P by the endless belt 4 and the conveyance roller R and the discharge speed of the recording medium P by the discharge roller Rd will be described.
FIG. 3 illustrates the transport speed and discharge speed of the recording medium P in the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, and at which position the moving speed of the recording medium P is decelerated from the transport speed to the discharge speed. It is a graph for. More specifically, the deceleration position of the moving speed of the recording medium P and the maximum value of the ejection speed of the recording medium P when the recording medium P is decelerated at the deceleration position (the previously recorded recording medium P was recorded next). 6 is a graph illustrating three types of (a), (b), and (c) as examples of the maximum speed for preventing the recording medium P from being caught up.

  The recording medium P is transported at the transport speed v1 by the endless belt 4 and the transport roller R, and discharged to the tray 17 by the discharge roller Rd at the discharge speed v2. The conveyance speed v1 is faster than the discharge speed v2 and corresponds to the recording speed by the recording head 9, and is a predetermined constant speed.

On the other hand, the discharge speed v2 can be changed according to the position of the recording medium P when decelerating from the transport speed v1 to the discharge speed v2. This is due to the following reason.
In the case where recording is continuously performed on the recording medium P, the recording medium P to be recorded first and the recording medium P to be recorded next are conveyed with a certain interval. When the previously recorded recording medium P is discharged by the discharge roller Rd, if the previously recorded recording medium P is decelerated early and the discharge speed v2 is too slow, the next recorded recording medium P is recorded. Catches up with the recording medium P recorded earlier. In such a state, the recording medium P cannot be stably stacked on the tray 17.

In order to prevent the previously-recorded recording medium P from catching up with the next-recorded recording medium P, the deceleration timing of the previously-recorded recording medium P is delayed, or the discharge speed v2 It is necessary not to make it too late.
When the discharge speed v2 is not significantly different from the transport speed v1, when the recording medium P is discharged by the discharge roller Rd, the recording medium P is discharged to the tray 17 at a high speed, and the recording medium P is placed on the tray 17. It may not be possible to stack stably. For this reason, it is preferable that the discharge speed v2 is as slow as possible.
That is, in order to make the discharge speed v2 as slow as possible, it is necessary to delay the deceleration timing of the recording medium P recorded earlier, and such a configuration is preferable.

The control unit 21 of the recording apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a recording medium on a moving path of the recording medium P from a holding position of the recording medium P by the transport roller Re to a holding position of the recording medium P by the discharge roller Rd. The driving of the discharge roller Rd is controlled so that the discharge speed v2 is reached at a position where the rear end of P exceeds the midpoint m of the movement path.
This is indicated by (a) and (b) in FIG. 3A and 3B show a discharge speed v2 at a position where the rear end of the recording medium P transported at the transport speed v1 exceeds the midpoint m of the movement path (region β in the figure). It has become.
On the other hand, FIG. 3C shows a discharge speed v2 at a position (a region in the figure) where the rear end of the recording medium P transported at the transport speed v1 is before the midpoint m of the movement path. ing.
As apparent from FIGS. 3A to 3C, the discharge speed v2 can be set slower as the deceleration timing of the recording medium P is delayed in consideration of the interval between the continuous sheets.

  The control unit 21 of the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has a graph as shown in FIG. 3A when the moving distance of the recording medium P is on the horizontal axis and the moving speed of the recording medium P is on the vertical axis. The discharge roller Rd is driven so as to be. For this reason, the discharge speed v2 can be sufficiently slowed, and the time from recording to stacking can be increased, and the recording medium P is placed on the tray 17 so that the rear ends of the recording medium P are aligned. Can be stacked stably.

[Example of Recording Method] (FIG. 4)
Next, the recording method of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the recording method of this embodiment.
Note that the recording method of the present embodiment is an embodiment performed using the recording apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. When recording on the recording medium P continuously, recording is performed on one recording medium P. It is an Example of the recording method. Therefore, in practice, this recording method is continuously performed for each recording medium P on which recording is performed.

In the recording method of this embodiment, when the recording apparatus 1 inputs recording data, first, in step S110, the recording medium P held on the tray 2 is picked up by the pickup roller Rp, and the recording medium P is conveyed. The roller R transports the transport path 3 to the gate roller Rg.
Next, in step S120, the recording medium P is conveyed to the endless belt 4 side by opening and closing (rotating and stopping) the gate roller Rg at a predetermined timing.

Next, in step S130, it is determined whether or not the recording medium P is detected by the optical sensor S1. This step is based on whether or not the control unit 21 inputs a detection signal of the recording medium P from the optical sensor S1 within a predetermined time after the operation (rotation) of opening the gate roller Rg. Whether or not is detected.
If it is determined that the recording medium P has been detected, the process proceeds to step S140. If it is determined that the recording medium P has not been detected, the recording method according to this embodiment is terminated.

  Next, in step S140, the conveyance of the recording medium P by the endless belt 4 at the conveyance speed v1 is started. In this embodiment, the recording area is conveyed by the endless belt 4 and the non-recording area is conveyed by the conveyance roller R. Even when the recording medium P is conveyed by any of the endless belt 4 and the conveyance roller R, the recording medium P is conveyed at the conveyance speed v1. However, the recording area and the non-recording area may be transported at different speeds.

  Next, in step S150, recording is performed on the recording medium P conveyed by the endless belt 4 by the recording head 9. The recording medium P on which recording has been performed is transported through the transport path 16 to the discharge roller Rd by the transport roller R and the transport roller Re while maintaining the transport speed v1.

Next, in step S160, it is determined whether or not the recording medium P is detected by the optical sensor S2. In this step, whether or not the recording medium P is detected depends on whether or not the control unit 21 has input the detection signal of the recording medium P from the optical sensor S2 within a predetermined time after the gate roller Rg is opened. Judging.
If it is determined that the recording medium P has been detected, the process proceeds to step S170. If it is determined that the recording medium P has not been detected, the recording method according to this embodiment is terminated.

Next, in step S170, after waiting for a predetermined time to elapse after the recording medium P is detected by the optical sensor S2, the process proceeds to step S180. The predetermined time is specifically the position where the rear end of the recording medium P exceeds the midpoint m of the moving path in the movement path of the recording medium P from the transport roller Re to the discharge roller Rd. Is the time set so that the discharge speed becomes v2.
Next, in step S180, the drive speed of the discharge roller Rd is changed so that the moving speed of the recording medium P by the discharge roller Rd changes from the conveyance speed v1 to the discharge speed v2.

Next, in step S190, the process waits for a predetermined time after the recording medium P is detected by the optical sensor S2, and then the process proceeds to step S200. The predetermined time is specifically the time corresponding to the trailing edge of the recording medium P being removed from the nipping position by the discharge roller Rd and discharged to the tray 17. In the present embodiment, the drive control of the discharge roller Rd is performed based on the detection result by the optical sensor S2, but is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the detection result by the optical sensor S1 and the gate roller Rg You may perform based on the operation | movement etc. which open.
Next, in step S200, the drive speed of the discharge roller Rd is changed (returned) so that the moving speed of the recording medium P by the discharge roller Rd is changed from the discharge speed v2 to the transport speed v1, and the next recording medium P is moved. In preparation for conveyance, the recording method according to the present embodiment is completed.

[Modification]
In step S200, the driving speed of the discharge roller Rd is returned so that the moving speed of the recording medium P by the discharge roller Rd is changed from the discharge speed v2 to the transport speed v1, but the detection result of the optical sensor S1 and the gate roller Rg. For example, when there is no next recording medium P due to the opening / closing operation or the like, it is not necessary to return to the transport speed v1. In this case, the load required for controlling the discharge roller Rd can be reduced as compared with a configuration that does not.

  When recording is continuously performed on a plurality of recording media P as described above, the next recording medium P is detected before the recording medium P detected in step S130 is detected in step S160. May be conveyed from the gate roller Rg side to the endless belt 4 side. In this case, the throughput can be further improved as compared with a configuration that does not. Further, the gate roller Rg may be opened and closed at a timing at which a plurality of recording media P are conveyed by the endless belt 4. In this case, the throughput can be further improved as compared with a configuration that does not.

  In the above description, the conveyance speed of the endless belt 4 is maintained constant at v1 regardless of the drive control of the discharge roller Rd. However, the conveyance speed of the endless belt 4 is caused by the eccentricity of the endless belt drive roller. Thus, the conveying speed of the endless belt 4 may vary. For example, (a) the transport speed of the endless belt 4 when the recording medium P passes through the recording area, and (b) the transport speed of the endless belt 4 when the recording medium P is discharged by the discharge roller Rd. The difference is (a) the conveyance speed of the endless belt 4 when the recording medium P passes through the recording area, and (c) the discharge speed of the discharge roller Rd when the recording medium P is discharged by the discharge roller Rd. It should be smaller than the difference. Even in this case, the recording medium can be stably stacked on the stack portion without reducing the recording speed.

  Further, the control of the driving speed of the discharge roller Rd and the control of the opening / closing operation of the gate roller Rg may be changed according to the size of the recording medium P. Specifically, when the length of the recording medium P in the moving direction changes, the trailing end of the recording medium P is moved by the discharge roller Rd after the leading end of the recording medium P moves to the nipping position by the discharging roller Rd. Since the time until it is removed from the clamping position changes, in that case, a predetermined time between step S190 and step S200, a value of the conveyance speed v1, or a predetermined timing for opening and closing the gate roller Rg is changed. May be changed. Alternatively, instead of or in addition to the size of the recording medium P, the control of the driving speed of the discharge roller Rd and the control of the opening / closing operation of the gate roller Rg are changed according to the type, basis weight, and thickness of the recording medium P. May be. Even in these cases, the recording medium can be stably stacked on the stack portion without lowering the recording speed.

  In addition, when there are a plurality of types of conveyance speeds of the endless belt 4 and recording is performed on the recording medium P at any one of the conveyance speeds according to the selection of the recording mode, the driving speed of the discharge roller Rd according to each recording mode And control of the opening / closing operation of the gate roller Rg may be changed. Even in these cases, the recording medium can be stably stacked on the stack portion without reducing the recording speed in accordance with the difference in the recording mode and the conveyance speed of the endless belt 4.

  In the above description, the control unit 21 controls the motors to drive the endless belt 4 so that the conveyance speed of the endless belt 4 is v1, and the discharge speed of the discharge roller Rd is v2. Whether or not to perform the control may be changed according to the number of P. For example, the control may be performed when the number of recording sheets of one recording job is greater than a predetermined value, and the control may not be performed when the number of recording sheets of one recording job is less than a predetermined value. In this case, the load of the endless belt driving roller motor 40 that drives the endless belt 4 can be reduced. In particular, the predetermined value is determined on the basis of the maximum number of recording media P that can hold the state in which the recording media P is transported on the transport path between the endless belt 4 and the discharge roller Rd. Preferably it is. In this case, since the endless belt 4 may be decelerated if the number of recording jobs is less than the predetermined value, the load on the endless belt driving roller motor 40 can be reduced.

  Further, the recording apparatus 1 includes a conveyance path that is long enough to hold a state where at least one recording medium P is conveyed on the conveyance path between the endless belt 4 and the discharge roller Rd. There may be. In this case, as compared with a configuration that does not, it takes time to discharge and curling can be suppressed, so that recording can be performed on a larger number of recording media P per unit time. Further, the recording apparatus 1 includes a plurality of recording targets between papers that can hold a state where at least two recording media P are transported on the transport path between the endless belt 4 and the discharge roller Rd. The structure which can convey the medium P may be sufficient. In this case, it is more effective.

1 recording device, 2 tray, 3 transport path, 4 endless belt (transport mechanism),
5 roller, 6 roller, 7 pressure roller, 8 charging roller,
9 recording head, 10 reversing mechanism, 11 transport path, 12 stack unit,
13 transport path, 14 transport path, 15 tray (stack unit), 16 transport path,
17 tray (stack part), 18 motor for pickup roller,
19 Motor for gate roller, 20 Motor for discharge roller, 21 Control unit,
22 CPU, 23 system bus, 24 ROM, 25 RAM,
26 head drive unit, 27 motor drive unit, 28 transport roller motor,
29 I / O section, 30 interface, 31 monitor,
32 control panel, 33 rotation axis,
40 Endless belt drive roller motor, G1, G2 guide section, P recording medium,
R, Re transport roller (transport mechanism), Rd discharge roller,
Rg gate roller (gate part), Rp pickup roller,
S1, S2 Optical sensor

Claims (8)

A recording head capable of recording on a recording medium;
A transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium;
A stack unit capable of stacking the recording medium;
A discharge roller that sandwiches the recording medium transported by the transport mechanism and discharges the recording medium from the sandwiching position to the stack unit,
The discharge speed of the discharge roller when discharging the recording medium by the discharge roller is slower than the transport speed of the transport mechanism when the recording medium passes through the recording area by the recording head,
The recording apparatus is characterized in that the conveyance speed of the conveyance mechanism is maintained when the recording medium passes through the recording area by the recording head and when the recording medium is discharged by the discharge roller. The recording apparatus according to claim 1,
The recording apparatus includes a control unit that controls driving of the discharge roller,
The controller is
In a state where the recording medium is moved by the transport mechanism and the discharge roller, the discharge roller is driven so that the speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller becomes the transport speed. Control
In a state where the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller and is not moved by the transport mechanism, the speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller is changed from the transport speed to the discharge speed. To control the driving of the discharge roller,
In a state where the recording medium is discharged from the discharge roller and the next recording medium cannot be moved by the discharging roller, the next recording medium is moved to a position where the recording roller is moved by the discharging roller. A recording apparatus that controls driving of the discharge roller so that a speed at which the next recording medium is moved by the discharge roller becomes the transport speed before reaching a certain state. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The recording apparatus includes a control unit that controls driving of the discharge roller, and a detection sensor for the recording medium,
The control unit controls driving of the discharge roller based on detection of the recording medium by the detection sensor so that a speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller is changed from the transport speed to the discharge speed. A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The recording apparatus includes a control unit that controls driving of the discharge roller, and a gate unit that can send the recording medium to the transport mechanism by opening and closing the gate,
The control unit controls driving of the discharge roller based on an operation of opening the gate by the gate unit so that a speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller is changed from the transport speed to the discharge speed. A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The transport mechanism has a transport roller for sandwiching the recording medium,
The recording apparatus includes a control unit that controls driving of the discharge roller,
The control unit is configured to record the recording medium from a nipping position of the recording medium by a conveying roller provided on the most downstream side in the conveying direction of the recording medium by the conveyance mechanism to a nipping position of the recording medium by the discharge roller. Driving the discharge roller so that a speed at which the recording medium is moved by the discharge roller at the position where the rear end of the recording medium exceeds the midpoint of the movement path in the medium movement path is the discharge speed. A recording apparatus characterized by controlling the above. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport mechanism has an endless belt and continuously drives the endless belt from the start of recording to the end of recording when recording is continuously performed on the plurality of recording media. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The recording apparatus, wherein the recording head is a line head in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are provided side by side in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the recording medium. A recording head capable of recording on a recording medium, a transport mechanism for transporting the recording medium, a stack unit capable of stacking the recording medium, and sandwiching the recording medium transported by the transport mechanism A discharge method for discharging from the position to the stack unit, and a recording method performed using a recording apparatus comprising:
The discharge speed of the discharge roller when discharging the recording medium by the discharge roller is slower than the transfer speed of the transfer mechanism when passing through the recording area by the recording head,
A recording method characterized in that the transport speed of the transport mechanism during discharge by the discharge roller is maintained at the transport speed of the transport mechanism when passing through the recording area.

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