JP2018015985A - Inkjet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a recording medium to be heated uniformly and properly so as to improve image quality.SOLUTION: The inkjet printer comprises a recording head, a conveying member for conveying a recording medium and a supporting unit for supporting the recording medium. The supporting unit includes a supporting member having grooves m1, m2, n1 and n2 formed on a rear side surface Sb and heaters H1 and H2 stored in the grooves m1, m2, n1 and n2, where in the vicinity of an end part 45L in a longitudinal direction of the supporting member, the grooves m1, m2, n1 and n2 are made to meander in a conveying direction of the recording medium so that meandered parts Ar1 are formed in the heaters H1 and H2. Densities of arrangement of the heaters H1 and H2 can be set high in the vicinity of the end part 45L and set low in the center part thereof. Thus, the recording medium can be heated uniformly, so that ink droplets can be dried equally without causing variation in fixability of the ink droplets.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet printer.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an ink jet printer, ink is supplied from an ink cartridge to a recording head, and ink droplets are ejected from the recording head and adhered to a recording medium so that characters, images, and other images are formed and printed. It has become.

  By the way, when an image is formed in the ink jet printer, an ink containing a pigment as a color material, that is, a solvent ink is used as an organic solvent as a solvent. Since the solvent ink has high fixability, light resistance, and the like, for example, a printed matter in which an image is formed by attaching ink droplets to a resin film as a recording medium is widely used for outdoor use.

  In addition, the ink droplets adhering to the recording medium become higher in temperature as the recording medium is heated before printing, during printing, after printing, etc. As a result, the printing speed can be increased.

  For this reason, an ink jet printer is provided in which a heater is provided on a platen that supports a recording medium, and the recording medium conveyed on the platen is heated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in the ink jet printer, since the platen is disposed so as to extend in the width direction of the recording medium, the amount of heat radiation differs between the end portion and the center portion of the platen, and the temperature distribution of the platen cannot be made uniform. . Therefore, the recording medium cannot be heated uniformly, and a temperature difference is generated for each part of the recording medium. Therefore, not only does the fixing property of the ink droplets adhered to the recording medium vary, but the ink droplets are evenly distributed. Cannot be dried. As a result, the image quality is degraded.

  In particular, in a large-sized ink jet printer, since the longitudinal dimension of the platen is increased, the temperature difference for each part of the recording medium is increased.

  Accordingly, there is an ink jet printer in which the heater density in the width direction of the platen (the recording medium conveyance direction) is increased at the end portion and lower at the center portion by turning the heater back and forth at the end portion of the platen. (See, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2012-135889 A JP 2014-162108 A

  However, in the ink jet printer described in Patent Document 2, since a predetermined space is required in the width direction of the platen in order to fold back the heater, the central portion increases as the heater density increases at the end of the platen. Therefore, the density of the heaters in the recording medium becomes excessively low, and the recording medium cannot be heated properly.

  On the other hand, if it is attempted to obtain a sufficient heater density at the center of the platen, it becomes difficult to turn the heater back at the end.

  Further, in the ink jet printer described in Patent Document 2, the heater is embedded in a groove formed in advance in the platen, and the arrangement position of the heater is fixed. Therefore, after the platen is manufactured, The temperature distribution cannot be changed. Therefore, the recording medium cannot be heated properly.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional ink jet printer and to provide an ink jet printer capable of heating a recording medium uniformly and appropriately and improving image quality. And

  Therefore, in the ink jet printer of the present invention, a recording head that discharges ink droplets and adheres to a recording medium to form an image, a conveying member that conveys the recording medium, and a recording medium that is conveyed by the conveying member are provided. And a supporting unit for supporting.

  The support unit includes a support member having a groove formed on the back surface, and a heater accommodated in the groove.

  Further, in the vicinity of the end in the longitudinal direction of the support member, the groove is meandered in the recording medium conveyance direction, and a meandering portion is formed in the heater accommodated in the groove.

  According to the present invention, in an ink jet printer, a recording head that discharges ink droplets to adhere to a recording medium to form an image, a conveying member that conveys the recording medium, and a recording medium that is conveyed by the conveying member are provided. And a supporting unit for supporting.

  The support unit includes a support member having a groove formed on the back surface, and a heater accommodated in the groove.

  Further, in the vicinity of the end in the longitudinal direction of the support member, the groove is meandered in the recording medium conveyance direction, and a meandering portion is formed in the heater accommodated in the groove.

  In this case, the support unit includes a support member having a groove formed on the back surface and a heater accommodated in the groove, and the groove conveys the recording medium in the vicinity of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the support member. Since the meandering portion is formed in the heater meandering in the direction and accommodated in the groove, the heater arrangement density can be high at the end portion and low at the central portion.

  Therefore, since the temperature distribution of the support member can be made uniform, the recording medium can be heated uniformly and appropriately, and the ink droplet fixing property does not vary, so that the ink droplets can be removed. It can be dried evenly. As a result, the image quality can be improved.

It is a principal part perspective view of the platen seen from the back surface side in embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the medium center guide part in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view of the platen in an embodiment of the invention. It is a rear view of the platen unit in an embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control apparatus of the heater in embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, an ink jet printer as an ink jet image forming apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an inkjet printer, Fr denotes a frame of the inkjet printer 10, and the frame Fr includes an upper frame Fr1 and a lower frame Fr2.

  The upper frame Fr1 is formed by extending from the left end of the receiving plate PB, which is arranged to extend from the left end to the right end when the ink jet printer 10 is viewed from the front side (front side in the drawing). The outer side plate PL1 as the first main support part, the outer side plate PR1 as the second main support part formed by rising from the right end of the receiving plate PB, and a right distance from the side plate PL1 by a predetermined distance. The inner side plate PL2 as the first sub-supporting portion formed by rising from the receiving plate PB in FIG. 2 and the second side formed by rising from the receiving plate PB to the left by a predetermined distance from the outer side plate PR1. The inner side plate PR2 is provided as a secondary support portion.

  A rail 15 is installed between the outer side plates PL1 and PR1, and a carriage 17 is disposed along the rail 15 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. For this purpose, a driving pulley 18 and a driven pulley 19 are rotatably arranged on the outer side plate PR1, and an endless belt 21 is movably stretched between the pulleys 18 and 19. The carriage 17 is attached to a predetermined portion of the endless belt 21. A carriage motor (not shown) as a carriage moving drive unit is connected to the pulley 18. A plurality of recording heads (not shown) are attached to the carriage 17.

  Accordingly, by driving the carriage motor, the carriage 17 is moved in the left-right direction, and each recording head is moved in the left-right direction as the carriage 17 moves, so that it is orthogonal to the movement direction of the carriage 17. Printing can be performed on a recording medium (not shown) conveyed in the direction.

  As the recording medium, in addition to paper, a resin film such as vinyl chloride or PET can be used.

  A linear scale 23 is disposed along the rail 15, and the scale of the linear scale 23 is read by an encoder (not shown) disposed on the carriage 17 so that the position of the carriage 17 can be detected.

  A medium center guide portion 25 is disposed between the inner side plates PL2 and PR2 on the receiving plate PB. The medium center guide portion 25 is arranged to extend between the inner side plates PL2 and PR2, has a plate shape, and a platen unit u1 as a support unit for supporting the recording medium, and the platen unit u1. Is provided with an air suction mechanism 51 (FIG. 3) to be described later for drawing the recording medium conveyed on the platen unit u1 toward the platen unit u1 by negative pressure.

  A rear paper guide (not shown) as a medium rear guide portion is disposed on the rear side (the rear side in the drawing) of the upper frame Fr1. The rear paper guide is fed from a feeding roll (not shown) and guides the conveyed recording medium to the medium center guide portion 25. For this purpose, a transport roller pair 30 as a transport member is rotatably disposed between the rear paper guide and the medium center guide portion 25 in the transport direction of the recording medium.

  The transport roller pair 30 extends along the platen unit u1 and is rotatably disposed as a first roller, and is disposed above the transport roller 31 so as to be rotatable. It comprises a pinch roller 32 as a second roller for pressing the medium against the conveying roller 31. When a conveyance motor (not shown) serving as a conveyance drive unit is driven and the conveyance roller 31 is rotated, the pinch roller 32 is rotated along with the rotation of the conveyance roller 31, whereby the recording medium is conveyed by the conveyance roller 31 and the pinch roller 32. In the state of being sandwiched, it is fed from the feeding roll and conveyed.

  In this case, after driving the transport motor to transport the recording medium for a predetermined distance, the transport motor is stopped, the carriage 17 is moved in this state, and ink droplets are ejected from the recording head, thereby performing one scan. An image for one line is formed. When one scan is completed, the transport motor is driven again to transport the recording medium for a predetermined distance, the transport motor is stopped, the carriage 17 is moved in this state, and ink droplets are ejected from the recording head. One scan is performed, and an image for one line is formed. By repeating this operation, an image is formed on the recording medium.

  In contrast to the single-pass method in the present embodiment, in the multi-pass method, the distance for transporting the recording medium is made shorter than the nozzle row of the recording head, and an image for one line is obtained by performing a plurality of scans. It is formed.

  On the front side of the upper frame Fr1, a front paper guide 33 is disposed as a medium front guide portion for guiding the recording medium after printing. The front paper guide 33 has a curved shape in order to guide the recording medium discharged from the medium center guide portion 25 in the horizontal direction downward.

  The lower frame Fr2 is formed by standing up from the center of the pedestals 35 and 36 arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance between the vicinity of the left end and the vicinity of the right end of the ink jet printer 10. And the holding plates PL3 and PR3 attached to the respective columns 37 and 38.

  Between the holding plates PL3 and PR3, a paper tube (winding roll) (not shown) for winding the recording medium discharged from the medium center guide portion 25 and guided by the front paper guide 33 is rotatably disposed. Is done. In order to hold the paper tube at the left end and the right end, roll bearings 26 and 27 are rotatably disposed on the holding plates PL3 and PR3. The recording medium can be taken up by rotating the paper tube by a take-up device (not shown).

  Further, a tension roller 28 is disposed in front of the paper tube so as to extend between the holding plates PL3 and PR3 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The tension roller 28 is guided by the front paper guide 33 and applies tension (tension) to the recording medium so that the recording medium wound around the paper tube does not sag. For this purpose, a groove mt is formed on the inner side surfaces of the holding plates PL3 and PR3 in the vertical direction, and the tension roller 28 is moved in the vertical direction along the groove mt.

  By the way, as described above, in the present embodiment, the rail 15 is installed between the outer side plates PL1 and PR1, and the medium center guide portion 25 is provided between the inner side plates PL2 and PR2.

  Accordingly, printing by each recording head is performed while the carriage 17 is moved on the medium center guide portion 25, and when the carriage 17 is placed between the outer side plate PL1 and the inner side plate PL2, and on the outer side. When placed between the plate PR1 and the inner side plate PR2, printing by each recording head is not performed.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the origin between the positions of the carriage 17 is set between the outer side plate PR1 and the inner side plate PR2, and the home side for maintenance of each recording head is set, and the outer side plate PR1 is set to the home position. Between the plate PL1 and the inner side plate PL2, the carriage 17 is withdrawn from the medium center guide portion 25 and at a retracted position for turning back.

  At the home position, a maintenance unit 41 is disposed to face each recording head, and an operation panel 43 as an operation / display unit for operating the ink jet printer 10 is disposed. In order to keep the nozzles of the recording head in a good state, the maintenance unit 41 sucks the wiper that wipes the nozzle surface of each recording head, the cap that prevents the nozzle from drying, and the ink whose viscosity has increased in the nozzle. A suction mechanism is provided. The operation panel 43 includes an operation unit provided with operation buttons and a display unit provided with a display lamp and the like.

  Next, the recording head will be described.

  In this embodiment, the recording head is an ink jet recording head, and each color of black (Bk), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is formed so that a color image can be formed. Four recording heads for ejecting the ink droplets are mounted on the carriage 17. Note that color reproducibility can be improved by using recording heads of other colors in addition to the recording heads of the respective colors. In the present embodiment, a solvent ink containing a pigment as a coloring material is used as an organic solvent as a solvent.

  A plurality of nozzles are formed in a row on the nozzle surface of each recording head. Each recording head is attached to the carriage 17 so that the nozzle surface faces the platen unit u1, and the carriage 17 is moved back and forth according to the image data. A color image can be formed by ejecting ink droplets of each color through nozzles and adhering them to predetermined positions on the recording medium. The carriage 17 is reciprocated based on the position detected by the encoder.

  Next, the medium center guide unit 25 will be described.

  3 is a perspective view of the medium center guide portion in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a rear view of the platen in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a rear view of the platen unit in the embodiment of the present invention. .

  In the figure, reference numeral 25 denotes a medium center guide portion, u1 denotes a platen unit having a long shape, and 51 denotes a platen unit u1 under a platen unit u1 by a negative pressure on a recording medium conveyed on the platen unit u1. It is an air suction mechanism for pulling it to the side.

  The platen unit u1 includes a rail 15 (FIG. 2), an endless belt 21, a front surface Sa facing the linear scale 23, and the like, and a back surface Sb facing the medium center guide portion 25. A platen 45 as a support member having a shape, a pair of linear heaters H1 and H2 that are laid on the surface Sb on the back side of the platen 45 and heat the platen 45 to heat the recording medium, and a flat plate shape. And a platen cover 47 that is attached to the back surface Sb of the platen 45 and covers the heaters H1 and H2. In the present embodiment, the platen 45 is made of aluminum, and the platen cover 47 is made of stainless steel.

  The platen 45 is formed with a plurality of suction holes h1 over the entire platen 45, the platen cover 47 is formed with a plurality of suction holes h2 over the entire platen cover 47, and the suction holes h1 and h2 are mutually connected. A through hole that is communicated and penetrates the platen unit u1 is formed. Further, a plurality of suction holes h1 and h2 are arranged in the width direction of the platen 45 and the platen cover 47 (the conveyance direction of the recording medium) to form a row, and the plurality of rows are in the length direction of the platen 45 and the platen cover 47. It is formed in the (movement direction of the carriage 17).

  The air suction mechanism 51 includes a box-shaped body 52 formed along the platen unit u1 and having an open upper surface. The upper surface of the box-shaped body 52 is covered with the platen unit u1, so that a hollow sealed space Sp is formed. It is formed. The sealed space Sp is partitioned by section walls Sw formed at a plurality of locations in the length direction of the box-shaped body 52 (moving direction of the carriage 17), in the present embodiment, at three locations. Four suction chambers Rm having substantially equal volumes are formed in Sp. And the fan Fn is arrange | positioned in the predetermined location of each suction chamber Rm, and the wall of the front side of the inkjet printer 10 in this Embodiment.

  When each fan Fn is driven, the air in each suction chamber Rm is sucked and discharged from the discharge port 54 below the fan Fn to the outside of the suction chamber Rm. Accordingly, a negative pressure is generated in each suction chamber Rm. Occur. As a result, air is sucked into the suction chambers Rm through the suction holes h1 and h2, and the recording medium is drawn toward the platen unit u1.

  By the way, the temperature of the ink droplets adhering to the recording medium is increased as the recording medium is heated, so that not only the fixing property is improved but also the quick drying property is increased, and as a result, the printing speed is increased. be able to.

  Therefore, as described above, in the present embodiment, a pair of linear heaters H1 and H2 are disposed on the platen 45, and the heaters H1 and H2 are energized to carry the recording conveyed on the platen 45. The medium is heated. Each of the heaters H1 and H2 has terminals t1 and t2 positioned at an end portion 45R on the inner side plate PR2 (FIG. 2) side of the platen 45, and an end portion 45L of the platen 45 on the inner side plate PL2 side. It is extended so that the folding | returning part re which has a U-shaped shape may be located.

  First and second wiring portions p1 and p2 extending linearly are formed between the folded portion re and the terminals t1 and t2 in the heater H1, and between the folded portion re and the terminals t1 and t2 in the heater H2. First and second wiring portions q1 and q2 extending linearly are formed. The first and second wiring parts p1, p2, q1, and q2 extend in parallel to each other, the distance between the first and second wiring parts p1 and p2, the distance between the second wiring parts p2 and q2, The distances between the first and second wiring portions q1 and q2 are both equal.

  By the way, when the heaters H1 and H2 are energized, the platen 45 is heated, but the end portions 45L and 45R of the platen 45 and the central portion have different heat radiation amounts. In that case, since the temperature distribution of the platen 45 cannot be made uniform, the recording medium cannot be heated uniformly, and a temperature difference occurs for each part of the recording medium, and the ink droplets adhering to the recording medium Not only does the fixing property vary, but the ink droplets cannot be evenly dried.

  For example, when the temperature of a certain part of the platen 45 is always low, the fixability of ink droplets is lower than that of other parts, and the ink droplets cannot be dried uniformly. As a result, a difference occurs in the wetting and spreading of the ink droplets, and a linear pattern is formed on the image.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, meandering portions Ar1 and Ar2 are formed in the heaters H1 and H2 in the vicinity of the end portions 45L and 45R of the platen 45, and the heaters H1 and H2 are in the width of the platen 45 in the meandering portions Ar1 and Ar2. It is made to meander in the direction. Thereby, the arrangement density of the heaters H1 and H2 in the length direction of the platen 45 can be increased in the vicinity of the end portions 45L and 45R and can be decreased in the central portion.

  Next, the meandering portion Ar1 will be described. The meandering portion Ar2 has the same structure as that of the meandering portion Ar1, and therefore description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a platen viewed from the back side in an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the drawing, reference numeral 45 denotes a platen, and a surface Sb on the back side of the platen 45 extends in the longitudinal direction of the platen 45 to accommodate the first and second wiring portions p1 and p2 of the heater H1. Grooves n1 and n2 for housing the grooves m1 and m2 and the first and second wiring parts q1 and q2 of the heater H2 are formed. At the end 45L, the grooves m1 and m2 form the folded portion re of the heater H1. In order to accommodate, the grooves n1 and n2 are communicated with each other in order to accommodate the folded portion re of the heater H2. The grooves m1, m2, n1, and n2 are all formed to have the same depth. The suction hole h1 is upstream of the groove m1 in the recording medium conveyance direction, between the grooves m1 and m2, between the grooves m2 and n2, and between the grooves n1 so as not to overlap the grooves m1, m2, n1, and n2. , N2, and downstream of the groove n1 in the recording medium conveyance direction.

  In the vicinity of the end 45L of the platen 45, the groove m1 has a plurality of “U” -shaped shapes, and in this embodiment, five branch groove portions mx as five convex groove portions branch from the groove m1. Thus, they are formed at a predetermined interval toward the upstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction, and as a result, the groove m1 is meandered in the recording medium conveyance direction.

  And the convex part px formed by deform | transforming the 1st wiring part p1 into "U" shape in each said branch groove part mx is accommodated. As a result, a meandering portion Ar1 including five convex portions px and four non-convex portions py between the convex portions px is formed in the vicinity of the end 45L in the first wiring portion p1. . Note that the meandering portion is not formed in the second wiring portion p2.

  Further, in the vicinity of the end portion 45L of the platen 45, a plurality of branch groove portions nx serving as five convex groove portions in the groove n1 and having a “U” shape are formed in the groove n1. Are formed at predetermined intervals toward the downstream side in the recording medium conveyance direction. As a result, the groove n1 is meandered in the recording medium conveyance direction.

  And the convex-shaped part qx formed by deform | transforming the 1st wiring part q1 into "U" shape in each branch groove part nx is accommodated. Thus, a meandering portion Ar1 including five convex portions qx and four non-convex portions qy between the convex portions qx is formed in the vicinity of the end portion 45L in the first wiring portion q1. . The meandering portion is not formed in the second wiring portion q2.

  When the convex portions px and qx are accommodated in the branch groove portions mx and nx, the branch groove portions mx and nx in the grooves m1 and n1 are short-circuited, and the gaps mc and nc are formed in the reference groove portion that extends linearly. . When the gaps mc and nc are formed, the thermal conductivity is lowered accordingly. Therefore, in order to prevent the thermal conductivity from being lowered, it is preferable to fill the gaps mc and nc with an aluminum piece or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the length of the first wiring part p1 in the branch groove parts mx and nx when the convex parts px and qx are formed is the first length when the convex parts px and qx are not formed. The length is about three times the length of the wiring part p1.

  In this manner, the heaters H1 and H2 can be long in the vicinity of the end portions 45L and 45R of the platen 45 and can be shortened in the central portion, so that the arrangement density of the heaters H1 and H2 can be reduced. , High in the vicinity of 45R and low in the center.

  Accordingly, the amount of heat generated by the heaters H1 and H2 is large at the end portions 45L and 45R of the platen 45 and is reduced at the center portion. Therefore, even if the heat radiation amount is different between the end portions 45L and 45R of the platen 45 and the central portion. The temperature distribution of 45 can be made uniform.

  And since a recording medium can be heated uniformly, the difference in temperature does not arise for every site | part of a recording medium. Accordingly, there is no variation in the fixing property of the ink droplets, and the ink droplets can be dried evenly. As a result, the image quality can be improved.

  In addition, since the convex portions px and qx are formed so as to protrude in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, it is only necessary to form one folded portion re in each of the heaters H1 and H2. Therefore, the distance between the first and second wiring parts p1 and p2, the distance between the second wiring parts p2 and q2, and the distance between the first and second wiring parts q1 and q2 can be shortened. Therefore, even if the arrangement density of the heaters H1 and H2 is increased in the vicinity of the end portions 45L and 45R of the platen 45, the arrangement density of the heaters H1 and H2 in the central portion is not excessively lowered. Therefore, the recording medium can be heated appropriately.

  Further, each of the grooves m1, m2, n1, and n2 is formed according to the cross-sectional shape of the heaters H1 and H2. For example, since a tapered portion is formed on the bottom surface, the inner periphery of the grooves m1, m2, n1, and n2 is formed. The surface and the outer peripheral surfaces of the heaters H1 and H2 can be sufficiently brought into contact with each other. Therefore, the heat generated in the heaters H1 and H2 can be sufficiently transmitted to the platen 45.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the distance between the convex portions px and the distance between the convex portions qx are non-uniform, and among the four non-convex portions py and qy, The lengths of the non-convex portions py and qy on the most central side are the longest. That is, in the meandering portions Ar1 and Ar2, the distance between the convex portions px and between the convex portions qx is increased from the end portions 45L and 45R of the platen 45 toward the center side. The arrangement density of the heaters H1 and H2 can be gradually lowered. Therefore, the temperature distribution of the platen 45 can be made more uniform. Note that the four non-convex portions py and qy between the convex portions px and between the convex portions qx can have the same length.

  By the way, as described above, in the medium center guiding portion 25, the air suction mechanism 51 is disposed below the platen unit u1, and when each fan Fn is driven in the air suction mechanism 51, the suction hole Air is sucked into the respective suction chambers Rm through h1 and h2, and is discharged out of the air suction mechanism 51 through the discharge port 54. However, air is discharged out of the air suction mechanism 51. Sometimes, the heat generated in the platen 45 is discharged out of the air suction mechanism 51 together with air.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the platen cover 47 is provided in order to suppress the heat generated in the platen 45 from being discharged out of the air suction mechanism 51. In the present embodiment, the platen cover 47 is formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the platen 45, for example, stainless steel, but can be formed of a resin having a lower thermal conductivity than stainless steel.

  Next, control devices for the heaters H1 and H2 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a heater control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, 10 is an ink jet printer, 60 is a control unit, 62 is a ROM as a first storage device, 63 is a RAM as a second storage device, 65 is a heater drive circuit, and the control unit 60 is an arithmetic unit. A CPU (not shown) as an apparatus is provided, and the CPU controls the entire inkjet printer 10 by a control program recorded in the ROM 62. The RAM 63 is used as a buffer for temporarily recording data and as a work area when the CPU performs calculations and the like.

  The control unit 60 performs control for moving the carriage 17 (FIG. 2), ejecting ink droplets in the recording head, transporting the recording medium, and operating the maintenance unit 41.

  The heater drive circuit 65 energizes the heaters H1 and H2 in response to an instruction from the control unit 60, generates heat, and heats the platen 45 (FIG. 1). The heaters H1 and H2 are energized independently.

  In the present embodiment, convex portions qx and qy are accommodated in all the branch groove portions mx and nx, respectively. However, if necessary, at least one of the branch groove portions mx and nx is selected. The convex portions qx and qy are accommodated in the branched groove portions, and the first wiring portions p1 and q1 are linearly extended without deformation in the other branch groove portions mx and nx. The temperature distribution can be made uniform.

  Further, in the present embodiment, meandering portions Ar1 and Ar2 are formed in the vicinity of the end portions 45L and 45R of the platen 45. However, a portion where the temperature of the platen 45 is lowered, for example, the platen 45 In the longitudinal direction, a meandering portion can be formed in a portion close to the section wall Sw of the air suction mechanism 51.

  In the present embodiment, the branch groove portions mx are formed one by one toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the branch groove portions nx are formed one by one toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. However, a plurality of them can be formed. In that case, the lengths of the heaters H1 and H2 in the meandering portions Ar1 and Ar2 can be adjusted by selecting the branch groove portions mx and nx that accommodate the convex portions qx and qy.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the recording medium is heated when it is conveyed on the platen unit u1, but the recording medium is arranged upstream of the platen unit u1 in the conveying direction of the recording medium. The recording medium can be heated when it is conveyed on the rear paper guide or on the front paper guide 33 disposed on the downstream side of the platen unit u1.

  In this case, the rear paper guide or front paper guide 33 functions as a support member, and a groove is formed on the rear surface of the rear paper guide or front paper guide 33, and a heater is accommodated in the groove. The rear paper guide and the heater constitute a rear guide unit as a rear side support unit, and the front paper guide 33 and the heater constitute a front guide unit as a front side support unit.

  In the present embodiment, the ink jet printer 10 has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

10 Inkjet printer 30 Conveying roller pair 45 Platen 45L, 45R End portions Ar1, Ar2 Meandering portion H1, H2 Heaters m1, m2, n1, n2 Groove u1 Platen unit Sb surface

Claims (10)

(A) a recording head that ejects ink droplets to adhere to a recording medium to form an image;
(B) a conveying member for conveying the recording medium;
(C) having a support unit for supporting the recording medium conveyed by the conveying member,
(D) The support unit includes a support member having a groove formed on the back surface, and a heater accommodated in the groove,
(E) An ink jet printer wherein the groove is meandered in the conveyance direction of the recording medium in the vicinity of an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the support member, and a meandering portion is formed in a heater accommodated in the groove.   The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the groove is meandered by forming a convex groove portion in the groove at an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the support member.   The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein the convex groove portion is formed by branching from a reference groove portion that extends linearly.   The inkjet printer according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the convex groove portions are formed in a longitudinal direction of the support member.   The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein the heater is accommodated in at least one of the plurality of convex groove portions.   The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein the distance between the convex groove portions in the longitudinal direction of the support member is made non-uniform.   The inkjet printer according to claim 6, wherein a distance between the convex groove portions in the longitudinal direction of the support member is increased from an end portion to a center portion of the support member.   The ink jet printer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a suction hole for drawing the recording medium toward the support unit is formed in the support unit so as not to overlap the groove.   The inkjet printer according to claim 3, wherein a piece is filled in the reference groove portion in the groove.   The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the support unit includes a covering member that is attached to a back surface of the support member and covers the heater.

Images