JP2019001063A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a recording device that inhibits a recording surface from floating (deformation part) due to curling phenomenon, controls a discharge distance to be constant and suppresses an image failure.SOLUTION: A recording device includes: deformation state determination means for determining a deformation state generated in a recording medium; transportation means for transporting a recording media; recording means for recording on a recording medium; and setting means for setting a transportation condition of the transportation means so as to prevent a recording head from coming into contact with a recording medium in accordance with a determination result by the deformation state determination means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that conveys a recording medium and performs recording on the recording medium using a recording head.

  An ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink droplets onto a recording medium is widely used as a recording apparatus. An ink jet recording apparatus generally includes a recording head that ejects ink droplets onto a recording surface of a recording medium.

  In such a recording apparatus, the distance (discharge distance) between the recording surface of the recording medium and the ink discharge port forming surface of the recording head needs to be maintained at a predetermined distance in order to maintain stable recording. is there. However, on the recording surface of the recording medium, a curl phenomenon or the like may occur due to a difference in moisture content between the front surface and the back surface where the ink droplets are ejected. The floating (deformed portion) of the recording surface due to the curl phenomenon or the like becomes a factor that hinders the above-described discharge distance from being constant.

  In order to avoid the lifting of the recording medium, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration of a recording apparatus provided with a curl restricting portion for restricting lifting of both ends of the recording medium. The curl restricting unit suppresses the lifting of the recording medium by interlocking with the raising / lowering operation of the recording head, and secures the discharge distance. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a sheet conveying device that detects a curl amount and changes a sheet suction force according to the curl amount in a sheet conveying device that conveys a sheet by negative pressure by air suction of the sheet. .

JP2013-154592A JP 2002-60112 A

  The configuration proposed in Patent Document 1 does not consider the area (for example, the center part) other than both ends of the recording medium and the lifting of the recording medium, and the recording head comes into contact with the lifted part to generate an image. There is a risk of failure. Further, the configuration proposed in Patent Document 2 does not consider the position where curling occurs (particularly at the end of the recording medium), and depending on the position, the floating of the recording medium can be sufficiently suppressed. Otherwise, the recording head may come into contact with the recording head to cause an image defect.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a recording apparatus capable of suppressing image defects.

  In order to solve the above problems, a recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a deformation state determination unit that determines a deformation state generated in a recording medium, a conveyance unit that conveys the recording medium, and records on the recording medium. And a setting unit configured to set a conveyance condition of the conveyance unit so that the recording head does not contact the recording medium according to a determination result of the deformation state determination unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress image defects.

1 is an overall schematic diagram of a recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the suction area | region of a medium adsorption | suction part. It is a figure which shows a control part and the component couple | bonded with it. It is a figure which shows the structure of a deformation | transformation detection part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the deformation | transformation control part which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the deformation | transformation control part which concerns on Example 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of a deformation | transformation part detection process. It is a figure which shows a deformation | transformation classification. It is a figure which shows the structure of the deformation | transformation control part which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the deformation | transformation control part which concerns on Example 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of a medium supply part.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the constituent elements described in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those constituent elements.

  In this specification, the term “record” means that information such as characters and figures is formed on the surface of the recording medium, or that the recording medium is processed according to such information (such as by cutting a pattern). It shall be. In addition, the “deformed portion” includes a bend, a bend, a curl due to a curling phenomenon, and a wrinkle due to ink adhesion or a lift due to a cockling phenomenon that becomes a wavy state.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention. The recording apparatus according to the present invention is mounted as an inkjet recording apparatus, but is not limited to such a mounting form.

  The recording apparatus 100 is connected to a computer device 101 that transmits recording data to the recording apparatus 100, and receives recording data from the computer device 101. The recording data includes recording medium information related to the length of the recording medium in the conveyance direction, the length in the conveyance orthogonal direction, the thickness, and the like, as well as recording information such as characters and images recorded on the recording medium.

  Note that the term “length in the transport direction” used in the following is the length of the recording medium based on the transport direction of the recording medium (the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 1, hereinafter referred to as “medium transport direction A”). It shall be. The “length in the transport orthogonal direction” is the length of the recording medium based on the direction (transport orthogonal direction B) perpendicular to the medium transport direction A. The “thickness” is the recording length. It is assumed that the thickness is viewed from the side of the medium.

  The recording apparatus 100 also includes an information recording unit 201, a medium supply unit 301, a medium transport unit 401, a medium suction unit 501, a medium discharge unit 601, a deformation detection unit 701, a deformation regulation unit 801, and a control unit 901.

  The information recording unit 201 includes four (four) recording heads 203 detachably held by a head holder 202 that can be moved up and down by a recording head drive motor (not shown). The recording heads 203 are arranged in parallel along the medium transport direction A. In this example, the recording head 203 includes recording heads 203K, 203C, 203M, and 203Y that discharge ink droplets of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively. These four recording heads 203K to 203Y have nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, and these are arranged along the conveyance orthogonal direction B.

  When the recording apparatus 100 is mounted by the serial head method, the recording head 203 performs a recording operation by moving in the conveyance orthogonal direction B in accordance with the movement of the recording medium P in the medium conveyance direction A. When the recording apparatus 100 is mounted by the line head method, the recording head 203 performs a recording operation in accordance with the movement of the recording medium P in the medium transport direction A while maintaining the fixed position. Hereinafter, the surface of the recording head 203 that ejects ink droplets is referred to as an “ejection port forming surface”.

  The information recording unit 201 also includes a maintenance mechanism 204 for the four recording heads 203K to 203Y to stably eject ink droplets. The maintenance mechanism 204 includes a cap that prevents solvent evaporation from the nozzles of the recording head 203, a wiping mechanism (blade and blade holding member) that removes ink on the nozzle surface, and a purge mechanism that discharges foreign matter inside the recording head 203. Have

  The medium supply unit 301 separates and supplies a plurality of stacked recording media P one by one. The medium supply unit 301 includes a pair of supply roller 302 a and supply roller 302 b (hereinafter referred to as supply roller 302), and a supply sensor 303. When the supply roller 302 is rotated by driving a supply motor (not shown), the recording medium P is supplied in the medium conveyance direction A.

  The supply sensor 303 is arranged in parallel with the supply roller 302 with respect to the medium conveyance direction A, and detects when both ends of the recording medium P in the medium conveyance direction A pass through the supply roller 302. Here, the leading ends of both ends in the medium transport direction A are referred to as “medium leading end portions”, and the trailing ends are referred to as “medium trailing end portions”.

  The medium transport unit 401 transports the recording medium P so that the recording medium P passes directly below the recording head 203. Here, a position immediately below the recording head 203, that is, a position where the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 203 and the recording surface of the recording medium P face each other and can record information is referred to as a “recording position” (FIG. 1). Of broken line X).

  The medium transport unit 401 includes an endless transport belt 402 on which the recording medium P is placed and transported. The conveyor belt 402 is stretched over the drive shaft 403 and the driven shaft 404 and is sandwiched between a pair of the conveyor roller 407 and the pinch roller 406. As the drive shaft 403 is rotated by driving the transport motor 405, the transport belt 402 also circulates in the medium transport direction A.

  The medium adsorbing unit 501 is disposed immediately below the transport belt 402 and causes the recording medium P to be in close contact with the transport belt 402 by air pressure (negative pressure). The suction surface of the medium adsorption unit 501 faces the recording position, and the air pressure from the suction surface prevents the recording medium P from being lifted when the recording medium P passes the recording position.

  Since the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment employs the pneumatic suction method, the medium suction unit 501 is mounted by a suction fan, but may have a structure in which a plurality of small fans are arranged. In such a configuration, the medium suction unit 501 may be controlled to increase or decrease the air pressure of some of the plurality of small fans according to the area of the recording surface of the recording medium P (this control is performed). The portion of the small fan is called “suction area”).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the area of the recording surface is A4 size, the portion indicated by Y becomes a suction region, and when the area of the recording surface is B3 size, the portion indicated by Z becomes a suction region. Controlled. That is, when recording an A4 size recording medium P, only the suction force of the small fan constituting the area indicated by Y among the small fans constituting the medium suction unit 501 shown in FIG. 2 is controlled (suction force). Strengthen or weaken). The medium adsorbing unit 501 may be mounted by an electrostatic adsorption method that adsorbs the recording medium P by charging the conveyance belt 402 to a high voltage.

  The medium discharge unit 601 discharges and stacks the recording medium P for which the recording operation has been completed. The deformation detection unit 701 detects the position where the deformed portion of the recording surface of the recording medium P is generated and the amount of deformation (that is, the upward amount of the deformed portion). Details of the deformation detection unit 701 will be described later.

  The deformation restricting portion 801 suppresses both end portions of the recording medium P in the conveyance orthogonal direction B, and prevents the deformed portions generated at both end portions from coming into contact with the discharge port forming surface. Details of the deformation restricting portion 801 will be described later.

  The deformed portion occurring at the leading end of the medium means a portion where at least the leading end of the medium is deformed in the upward direction, and the area of the deformed region is not limited. Similarly, the deformed portion occurring at the rear end portion of the medium means a portion where at least the rear end portion of the medium is deformed in the upward direction. Note that positions other than the medium leading end and the medium trailing end are referred to as “medium non-end”.

  The control unit 901 controls the entire operation of the recording apparatus 100 by a processing device such as a processor reading a predetermined program stored in a storage device such as a ROM into a memory such as a RAM and executing it.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 901 includes the combined recording head 203, supply motor, transport motor 405, medium adsorption unit 501, encoder pulse detection unit, recording head drive motor, deformation detection sensor 703, and power mechanism 807. To control the operation. Details of the deformation detection sensor 703 and the power mechanism 807 will be described later. The encoder pulse detection unit detects an encoder signal (encoder pulse) from an encoder (not shown) that detects the rotational angle position of the supply motor. The control unit 901 calculates the transport distance of the recording medium P by integrating the encoder pulses.

  Next, the configuration of the deformation detection unit 701 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). The deformation detection unit 701 includes a deformation detection member 702 and a deformation detection sensor 703, each of which is disposed between the supply roller 302 and the pinch roller 406 with respect to the medium transport direction A. The deformation detection member 702 contacts the recording surface of the recording medium P until the recording medium P supplied by the supply roller 302 reaches the pinch roller 406.

  When a deformation (that is, a deformed portion) such as a curl or a crease in the upward direction (direction in which the deformation detection member 702 is lifted) occurs on the recording surface, the deformation detection member 702 is lifted. For example, the deformation detection sensor 703 is implemented by a non-contact displacement sensor such as an optical type or a capacitance type, and detects a displacement amount when the deformation detection member 702 is lifted by a predetermined distance. With this configuration, the presence / absence of a deformed portion and the amount of deformation occurring on the recording surface of the recording medium P are detected.

  In addition, although the present Example demonstrates the structure by which the one deformation | transformation detection member 702 is arrange | positioned, it is not limited to such a structure. For example, a configuration may be employed in which a plurality of deformation detection members (not shown) are arranged (a plurality of deformation detection sensors corresponding to each of the plurality of deformation detection members may be arranged accordingly). In this case, the plurality of deformation detection members are evenly arranged along the medium orthogonal direction.

  Some or all of the plurality of deformation detection members may be configured to move to positions that are equal to the length in the conveyance orthogonal direction B of the recording medium P according to the conveyance orthogonal direction B.

  For example, a part or all of the deformation detection member is moved by a guide rail spanned by a drive pulley and a driven pulley rotated by driving of a drive motor (not shown). A code wheel that rotates in conjunction with the drive pulley is attached to the drive pulley, and the detection position of the plurality of deformation detection members can be detected by the detection sensor reading the rotation amount. With this configuration, it is possible to uniformly detect deformed portions generated at a plurality of positions along the length in the conveyance orthogonal direction B of the recording medium P.

  In particular, it is possible to determine a deformed portion occurring at both ends of the length of the recording medium P in the medium orthogonal direction. The above-described control for moving the deformation detection member is controlled by the control unit 901 based on the length in the conveyance orthogonal direction B of the recording medium P included in the recording medium information received from the computer device 101.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the structure of the deformation | transformation control part 801 is demonstrated in detail. The deformation restriction unit 801 includes a deformation restriction unit 802a and a deformation restriction unit 802b extending along the conveyance orthogonal direction B.

  Each of the deformation restriction unit 802a and the deformation restriction unit 802b includes a deformation guide 803a and a deformation guide 803b for suppressing both ends of the recording medium P in the conveyance orthogonal direction B. The deformation guides 803a and 803b are arranged so that their leading ends are located between the conveyance belt 402 and the recording head 203, respectively. An intermediate portion of the deformation guide 803a is rotatable about a rotation shaft 804a, and a guide spring 805a is attached to the base end portion thereof.

  When the power mechanism 807a is lowered in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 901, the deformation guide 803a is urged in the direction of the arrow C1 by the guide spring 805a and is maintained in the rotating state (released state). As shown in FIG. 6, when the power mechanism 807a is raised, the guide stopper 806a comes into contact with the guide spring 805a and the deformation guide 803a is urged in the direction of the arrow C2. Accordingly, the deformation guide 803a suppresses both ends of the recording medium P in the conveyance orthogonal direction B. Similarly, the deformation guide 803b operates in the same manner as described above by the rotation shaft 804b, the guide spring 805b, the guide stopper 806b, and the power mechanism 807b.

  Next, a recording operation performed by the recording apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The processing shown in FIG. 7 is executed by the operation of each element described above under the control of the control unit 901.

  First, the control unit 901 receives recording data from the computer device 101, and reads the recording data (step S1). This recording data includes recording information and recording medium information. Next, in response to an instruction from the control unit 901, a supply motor (not shown) is driven and the supply roller 302 is rotated to supply the recording medium P in the medium conveyance direction A (step S2). . Then, the recording medium P passes through the deformation detection unit 701. Next, in response to an instruction from the control unit 901, the supply sensor 303 and the deformation detection sensor 703 execute a deformation portion detection process (S3). Details of the deformed portion detection process will be described with reference to FIG.

  The supply sensor 303 detects that the front end portion of the recording medium P has passed the supply roller 302 and notifies the control unit 901 (step S31). Here, before executing step S31, the control unit 901 determines whether or not the supply sensor 303 is operating at the timing when the recording medium P is supplied, and if the supply sensor 303 is not operating, The supply motor may be controlled to stop the supply of the recording medium P. In this case, the control unit 901 may transmit a message indicating that the recording operation has stopped to the computer device 101.

  Whether or not the supply sensor 303 described above is operating is determined by, for example, the control unit 901 transmitting a predetermined operation confirmation signal to the supply sensor 303 and receiving a confirmation response signal from the supply sensor 303. May be.

  Next, in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 901, the deformation detection sensor 703 determines the presence / absence of a deformed portion and the amount of deformation generated on the recording surface of the recording medium P with the detection surface facing the deformation detection member 702. It detects and notifies the control part 901 (step S32 thru | or step S34).

  The process of step S32 is executed at the timing when a to b (ms) have elapsed with reference to time a when the leading edge of the recording medium P is detected by the supply sensor 303. Similarly, the process of step S33 is performed at the timing when b to c (ms) have elapsed with respect to time a, and the process of step S34 is performed at the timing when cd (ms) has elapsed with respect to time a. Executed.

  The processes in steps S32 to S34 described above are referred to as deformed portion check 1 to deformed portion check 3, respectively. The timings at which the deformed portion check 1 to the deformed portion check 3 are executed are the size of the recording medium P (that is, the length in the transport direction of the recording medium P) and the movement in which the recording medium P is supplied by the supply roller 302, respectively. It may be calculated based on the distance.

  The size of the recording medium P is determined from the recording medium information read in step S1, and the distance traveled by the recording medium P is calculated by integrating the encoder pulses from the encoder pulse detector. With such a configuration, the deformed portion can be detected evenly with respect to the positions of the medium front end portion, medium rear end portion, and medium non-end portion of the recording medium P (in this embodiment, the central portion). As a result, it is possible to determine the deformation state of the recording medium P, that is, the position where the deformation portion is generated.

  Next, the supply sensor 303 detects that the rear end portion of the recording medium P has passed the supply roller 302 (step S35). With this process, the deformed portion detection process shown in FIG. 8 ends. Although the present embodiment shows an example in which the deformed portion check 1 to the deformed portion check 3 are executed, this number of times is merely an example, and is not limited to that number. The deformation portion check 1 to the deformation portion check N may be executed between the time when the medium front end portion of the recording medium P passes through the supply roller 302 and the time when the medium rear end portion passes.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 7, the control unit 901 determines the deformation classification based on the detection results of the deformation portion check 1 to the deformation portion check 3 (step S <b> 4). An example of deformation classification will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when a deformed portion is detected by one or both of the deformed portion check 1 and the deformed portion check 3 (that is, a deformed portion is generated at either or both of the medium leading end and the medium trailing end). The deformation classification is A. Further, when a deformed portion is detected only by the deformed portion check 2 (that is, a deformed portion is generated only at the non-end portion of the medium), the deformation classification is set to B. If no deformed portion is detected in any of the deformed portion check 1 to deformed portion check 3, the deformation classification is set to C.

  Next, the control unit 901 determines to start the recording operation only when the deformation classification is determined to be B or C in the determination in step S4. On the other hand, if it is determined that the deformation classification is A, the recording operation is stopped before the recording medium P reaches the recording position (step S5). Then, the process transitions to the subsequent step S8. In this case, the control unit 901 may transmit to the computer device 101 a message indicating that the recording operation has stopped and that the recording medium P is corrected to prompt reprinting.

  Note that, depending on the size of the recording medium P (that is, the length in the transport direction), the recording medium before the rear end of the recording medium P passes the supply roller 302 (that is, before the deformation portion detection process is completed). There is a possibility that the front end of the medium P reaches the recording position. In such a case, the printing operation may start despite the deformation classification being determined as A. In order to avoid this, the conveyance motor 405 and the recording head motor may be controlled to be driven after the deformation portion detection process is executed.

  Further, when the medium front end portion of the recording medium P reaches the recording position before the deformed portion detection process is completed, the medium front end portion may come into contact with the recording head 203 depending on the deformation amount of the medium front end portion. . In order to avoid this, when it is detected that a deformed portion has occurred at the time of the processing in step S32 (that is, when a deformed portion has occurred at the leading end of the medium), at that point, the recording medium P is It may be determined to stop recording before reaching the recording position.

  In this case, the control unit 901 controls the supply roller 302 to stop and raise the recording head 203 to a position where it does not contact the deformed recording medium P, and then drives the conveyance motor 405 to convey and record the recording medium P. You may make it discharge | emit. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the front end of the medium from coming into contact with the recording head 203. Note that the recording medium P may not be transported and discharged while the supply roller 302 is stopped.

  In addition to or instead of the above, before the recording medium P reaches the recording position, the power mechanisms 807a and 807b are raised so that the end portions of the recording medium P are suppressed by the deformation guides 803a and 803b, respectively. May be. In this case, at least the deformation restriction units 802a and 802b are arranged so as to be positioned in front of the recording position with respect to the medium conveyance direction A, or controlled to move to the positions.

  With such a configuration, when a deformed portion is generated at the leading end portion of the recording medium P, the recording medium P can be conveyed while suppressing the leading end portion. As a result, the recording medium P is transferred to the recording head 203. Contact can be prevented.

  In addition, the vibration of the recording apparatus 100 can be reduced as compared with raising the recording head 203 once. In the method of moving the deformation restricting unit 802b to the front of the recording position, the deformation restricting unit 802b is configured such that, for example, a drive pulley and a driven pulley rotate by driving of a drive motor (not shown), and the guide is stretched over the guide pulley. Move by rail. A code wheel that rotates in conjunction with the drive pulley is attached to the drive pulley, and the movement position of the deformation regulating unit 802b can be detected by reading the amount of rotation by the detection sensor.

  When it is determined in step S4 that the recording operation is started, the conveyance motor 405 is driven in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 901, and the recording medium P is conveyed on the medium conveyance unit 401 (step S6). When the recording medium P is positioned at the recording position, the recording head drive motor is driven in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 901, and the recording head 203 is lowered to perform recording on the recording medium P (step S7).

  Here, based on the deformation amount of the deformed portion detected in steps S32 to S34, control may be performed so that the recording head 203 descends to a position that ensures an optimal ejection distance with respect to the recording surface. Further, based on the thickness of the recording medium P included in the recording medium information read in step S1, control may be performed so that the recording head 203 descends to a position that secures an optimal ejection distance with respect to the recording surface. . When the recording head 203 descends to an appropriate position, the descent is stopped at that position and recording is performed.

  When this recording operation is performed, if the deformation classification is determined to be B in step S4, the medium suction unit 501 is controlled to increase the air pressure in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 901. This air pressure may be controlled according to the detected deformation amount. Further, the air pressure of only the suction area of the medium suction unit 501 configured according to the area of the recording surface of the recording medium P may be increased. On the other hand, if the deformation classification is determined to be C in step S4, the air pressure may be weakened in the entire medium suction unit 501.

  Thereafter, information is formed on the recording medium P by ejecting ink droplets of the respective colors from the recording heads 203K, 203C, 203M and 203Y at the recording position. The recording medium P that has been printed is discharged and stacked by the medium discharge unit 601 (step S8).

  As described above, the recording apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has been described. In the first embodiment, when the deformation classification is determined to be A (that is, when a deformed portion is generated in either the medium front end portion or the medium rear end portion), the recording operation is stopped (information recording portion). 201 by controlling the operation of either 201 or the media transport unit 401). In this embodiment, the recording medium P is adsorbed to the transport belt 402 by suction of the medium adsorbing unit 501. In this configuration, if a deformed portion is generated at the end portion of the recording medium P, the air flow is greatly influenced by the air flow being pulled away from the deformed portion of the end portion and escaped, and sufficient adsorption cannot be performed.

  On the other hand, when the deformation classification is determined to be B (that is, when a deformed portion is generated only at the position of the medium non-end portion), air escapes at least from the end portion even if the air pressure of the medium adsorbing portion 501 is increased. The deformed portion can be brought into close contact without any trouble. Further, since the suction area is configured according to the area of the recording surface of the recording medium P, energy consumption can be suppressed by increasing only the air pressure of the small fan that forms the suction area.

  When the classification is determined to be C, the air pressure of the entire medium adsorbing unit 501 is weakened. For example, when there is a cut or the like on the recording surface of the recording medium P, air drawn by air leak from the cutting surface is an ink droplet. It is possible to prevent the change in the discharge direction.

  Note that, as described above, in the configuration in which a plurality of deformation detection members are arranged in the deformation detection unit 701, the position where the deformation portion of the recording medium P is generated can be determined with higher accuracy. For example, in the configuration in which the deformation detection member is arranged and the deformation part check 1 to the deformation part check 3 are executed, the presence / absence of the deformation part and the deformation amount are detected at nine locations of the recording medium P. That is, it is possible to determine the deformed portions occurring at the three ends at the both ends and the center in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P × the three ends at the both ends and the center in the length in the conveyance orthogonal direction B.

  Further, as described above, when the deformation classification is determined to be B, the configuration for increasing the suction force of the medium suction unit 501 has been described. However, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration. For example, when the deformation classification is determined to be B, the recording head 203 may be raised to prevent the recording medium P from contacting the ejection port forming surface of the recording head 203.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the deformation restricting unit 801 included in the recording apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the invention. Unlike the deformation restricting portion 801 in the first embodiment, the deformation restricting portion 801 in the second embodiment operates in conjunction with the lifting operation of the recording head 203. Below, only a different part from the deformation | transformation control part 801 demonstrated in Example 1 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 10, engaging portions 808a and 808b that contact the head holder 202 are arranged at the respective distal ends of the deformation guide 803a and the deformation guide 803b. When the recording head 203 is in the raised position together with the head holder 202, the deformation guide 803a is urged in the direction of the arrow C1 by the guide spring 805a and is maintained in the rotating state (released state).

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the recording head 203 descends together with the head holder 202, the guide stopper 806a contacts the guide spring 805a, the engaging portion 808a contacts the head holder 202, and the deformation guide 803a moves in the direction of the arrow C2. Energize. Thereby, the deformation guide 803a holds down the end of the recording medium P. Similarly, the deformation guide 803b operates in the same manner as described above by the rotation shaft 804b, the guide spring 805b, the guide stopper 806b, and the engaging portion 808b.

  In this example, the deformation restricting unit 802a is fixed at a position where the front end of the recording medium P can be held down when the recording medium P is positioned at the recording position. On the other hand, the deformation restriction unit 802b may be movable in the conveyance orthogonal direction B according to the length of the recording medium P in the conveyance direction.

  For example, the deformation restricting unit 802b is moved by a guide rail spanned by a drive pulley and a driven pulley rotated by driving of a drive motor (not shown). A code wheel that rotates in conjunction with the drive pulley is attached to the drive pulley, and the movement position of the deformation regulating unit 802b can be detected by reading the amount of rotation by the detection sensor.

  Next, a recording operation executed by the recording apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the second embodiment, only the subsequent operation is different when the deformation classification is determined to be A in step S4 described in the first embodiment, and only that portion will be described. In the second embodiment, when the deformation classification is determined as A, the recording operation is not stopped.

  If the deformation classification is determined to be A in the determination in step S4, it is determined that the recording operation is started. Thereafter, the transport motor 405 is driven in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 901, and the recording medium P is transported on the medium transport unit 401 (step S9). When the recording surface of the recording medium P is positioned at the recording position, in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 901, deformation control is performed based on the length in the transport direction of the recording medium P included in the recording medium information read in step S1. The unit 902 moves to an appropriate position (step S10). Further, the recording head driving motor is driven, and the recording head 203 is lowered to perform recording on the recording medium P (step S11).

  Here, based on the deformation amount of the deformed portion detected in steps S32 to S34, control may be performed so that the recording head 203 descends to a position that ensures an optimal ejection distance with respect to the recording surface. Further, based on the thickness of the recording medium P included in the recording medium information read in step S1, control may be performed so that the recording head 203 descends to a position that secures an optimal ejection distance with respect to the recording surface. . When the recording head 203 descends to that position, the descent is stopped and recording is performed.

  As described above, when the medium front end portion of the recording medium P reaches the recording position before the deformed portion detection process ends, the medium front end portion contacts the recording head 203 depending on the deformation amount of the medium front end portion. There is a fear. In order to avoid this, when it is detected that a deformed portion is generated at the time of the process of step S32, the control unit 901 at that time, before the medium leading end of the recording medium P reaches the recording position. In addition, the recording head 203 may be controlled to be raised.

  Thereafter, after the conveyance motor 405 is driven and the recording medium P is positioned at the recording position, recording may be started by the operations of the deformation restricting unit 801 and the information recording unit 201 described above. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the front end of the medium from coming into contact with the recording head 203.

  As described above, it has been described above that the deformed portion check in steps S32 to S34 may be executed more than three times. For example, in the configuration in which the deformed portion checks 1 to 5 are executed, along the length in the transport direction of the recording medium P, one location between the medium front end portion and the central portion, and the media rear end portion and the central portion are arranged. It is also possible to detect a deformed portion occurring at one location between the two. The former of the two locations described above is the medium quasi-tip portion, and the latter is the medium quasi-rear end portion.

  If a deformed portion is detected only at either the medium quasi-tip portion or the medium quasi-rear end portion, the deformation classification may be determined as D. In this case, for example, the medium quasi-tip portion is less affected by air leaks than the medium tip portion, so that the overall air pressure of the medium adsorbing portion 501 is made stronger than the medium tip portion when performing a recording operation. You may do it. The same applies to the medium rear end portion.

  In the second embodiment, as compared with the first embodiment, when a deformed portion is generated in either the medium front end portion or the medium rear end portion of the recording medium P, the discharge port forming surface is suppressed by suppressing the both end portions. The discharge distance from the end of the recording medium P is optimally maintained. Further, by controlling the air pressure of the medium adsorbing unit 501 in accordance with the presence / absence of the deformed portion and the amount of deformation at the position of the medium non-end, the discharge distance between the discharge port forming surface and the portion is optimally maintained. Become so.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the two deformation restriction units 902a and 902b are arranged along the medium conveyance direction A has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, in addition to the above, two or more additional deformation regulation units for suppressing both ends of the length in the conveyance orthogonal direction B when the recording medium P is positioned at the recording position may be arranged. With this configuration, the end of the recording medium P can be suppressed at four or more locations, and as a result, the occurrence of air leak can be more effectively suppressed.

  Also in the second embodiment, it is obvious that the deformation restricting portion 801 described in the first embodiment (that is, not linked to the raising / lowering operation of the recording head 203) may be applied. In that case, the printing operation may be performed in a state where the recording head 203 is in a position where it does not contact the deformed recording medium P.

  Furthermore, in the case of the above configuration, the ejection distance may be longer than usual, and the ejected ink droplets are easily affected by the suction of the medium adsorbing unit 501. In order to prevent this, the overall air pressure of the medium adsorbing unit 501 may be weakened.

[Other Examples]
In both the first and second embodiments described above, the length of the recording medium P in the transport direction is determined based on the recording medium information included in the recording data transmitted from the computer device 101. It is not limited to a simple configuration. For example, by moving the movable medium length guide 304 disposed in the medium supply unit 301 shown in FIG. The length of the recording medium P in the conveyance direction may be determined.

  Such a configuration is, for example, when the recording medium P does not have a standard size including any type such as a triangle or a star (for example, the accurate size can be transmitted in the recording medium information). In addition, the length in the transport direction can be appropriately determined.

  The recording apparatus according to the present invention may be mounted in a thermal ink jet recording head that uses thermal energy generated from a heating element as energy for ejecting ink droplets. However, it is apparent that the recording apparatus according to the present invention may be mounted, for example, in a piezo ink jet recording head using a piezoelectric element.

  In the recording apparatus according to the present invention, the recording head 203 is moved up and down when recording on the recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, an appropriate ejection distance may be maintained by fixing the position of the recording head 203 and moving the recording medium P up and down.

P Recording medium 100 Recording device 203 Recording head 401 Medium transport unit 501 Medium adsorption unit 701 Deformation detection unit

Claims (17)

Deformation state determining means for determining a deformation state generated in the recording medium;
Conveying means for conveying the recording medium;
Recording means for recording on the recording medium;
A recording apparatus comprising: a setting unit that sets a conveyance condition of the conveyance unit so that the recording unit does not contact the recording medium according to a determination result of the deformation state determination unit. The deformation state determination unit further includes a deformation position detection unit that detects a position of a deformation portion of the recording medium, and determines a deformation state of the recording medium based on a detection result of the deformation position detection unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 1. The deformation state determining means determines whether or not the position of the deformation portion of the recording medium is an end of the recording medium based on the detection result of the deformation position detecting means,
The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit sets the conveyance condition according to a determination result of the deformation state determination unit. The conveying means further includes an adsorption means for adsorbing the recording medium with a predetermined adsorption force,
The setting means responds to the fact that the deformation position detection means determines that the position of the deformation portion of the recording medium is the position of the non-end portion of the recording medium, and sets the suction force of the suction means to the predetermined amount. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the attraction force is changed to a second attraction force stronger than the predetermined attraction force. In response to the deformation position detecting means determining that the position of the deformed portion of the recording medium is the position of the end of the recording medium, the setting means conveys the recording medium by the conveying means. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording apparatus is stopped. Deformation state determining means for determining a deformation state generated in the recording medium;
Recording means for recording on the recording medium;
A setting unit that sets a distance between the recording medium and the recording unit so that the recording unit does not contact the recording medium according to a determination result of the deformation state determination unit;
A recording apparatus comprising: The deformation state determination unit further includes a deformation position detection unit that detects a position of a deformation portion of the recording medium, and determines a deformation state of the recording medium based on a detection result of the deformation position detection unit. The recording apparatus according to claim 6. The deformation state determining means determines whether or not the position of the deformation portion of the recording medium is an end of the recording medium based on the detection result of the deformation position detecting means,
The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the setting unit sets a distance between the recording medium and the recording unit according to a determination result of the deformation state determination unit. The setting means does not contact the recording medium in response to the deformation position detecting means determining that the position of the deformed portion of the recording medium is the position of the end of the recording medium. The recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the recording apparatus is moved to a position. It further comprises an adsorption means for adsorbing the recording medium with a predetermined adsorption force,
In response to the deformation position detection means determining that the position of the deformation portion of the recording medium is the position of the end of the recording medium, the setting means applies the predetermined adsorption force to the predetermined adsorption force. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording apparatus is changed to a second attractive force that is weaker than the force. It further comprises an adsorption means for adsorbing the recording medium with a predetermined adsorption force,
In response to the deformation position detection means determining that the position of the deformation portion of the recording medium is the position of the non-end portion of the recording medium, the setting means is configured to apply the predetermined adsorption force to the predetermined adsorption force. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the recording device is changed to a third suction force stronger than the suction force. Deformation state determining means for determining a deformation state generated in the recording medium;
Recording means for recording on the recording medium;
Deformation restricting means for restricting deformation of the recording medium;
Setting means for setting a restricting action of the deformation restricting means according to a determination result of the deformation state determining means;
A recording apparatus comprising: The deformation state determination unit further includes a deformation position detection unit that detects a position of a deformation portion of the recording medium, and determines the deformation state based on a detection result of the deformation position detection unit. 12. The recording apparatus according to 12. The deformation state determining means determines whether or not the position of the deformation portion of the recording medium is an end of the recording medium based on the detection result of the deformation position detecting means,
The recording apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the setting unit sets the restriction action according to a determination result of the deformation state determination unit. The deformation restriction means includes a restriction member that is movable between a restriction position that restricts deformation of the recording medium and a non-restriction position that is retracted from the restriction position.
In response to the deformation state determining means determining that the position of the deformed portion of the recording medium is the position of the end of the recording medium, the setting means moves the deformation restricting means from the non-restricted position. The recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the recording apparatus is moved to the restriction position. The recording means is movable up and down in the direction of gravity;
16. The recording according to claim 15, wherein the restriction member is movable between the restriction position and a non-restriction position retracted from the restriction position in conjunction with the movement of the recording means. apparatus. The deformation restricting means includes medium adsorbing means for adsorbing the recording medium with a predetermined adsorbing force,
In response to the deformation position detection means determining that the position of the deformation portion of the recording medium is the position of the non-end portion of the recording medium, the setting means is configured to apply the predetermined adsorption force to the predetermined adsorption force. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the restricting action is set so as to be strengthened to a second attracting force stronger than the attracting force.

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