JP2020179572A - Ink supply device and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an ink supply device configured so that a degree of freedom of an installation state can be improved in a conveying device that conveys a recording medium in one direction during image formation.SOLUTION: The ink supply device, which supplies ink to a sheet-like recording medium to be conveyed in one direction by a conveying device to form an image, comprises a supply device main body having a plurality of ink heads, arranged across a conveyance-width direction of the conveying device perpendicular to a conveying direction of the recording medium by the conveying device. The supply device main body has a surface pointed toward an upstream side in the conveying direction and a surface pointed toward a downstream in the conveying direction, with the main body installed with respect to the conveying device, and is turned over in the surfaces in the conveying direction and the conveyance-width direction so as to be installed with respect to the conveying device even in any state in both directions where the surface pointed toward the upstream in the conveying direction and the surface pointed toward the downstream in the conveying direction are changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an ink supply device and an image forming device.

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium by supplying ink includes a conveying device for conveying the recording medium and an ink supply device for supplying ink to the recording medium conveyed by the conveying device. As a technique related to such an image forming apparatus, Patent Document 1 below states that "one side of a transporting unit that transports a recording medium for printing has an opening shape, and the recording medium can be conveyed from either forward or reverse direction. The "done" configuration is disclosed. As a result, printing is possible regardless of the size of the recording medium, and printing is possible in either the forward or reverse transport direction of the recording medium.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-287415

By the way, the ink supply device may be newly installed and used in addition to the transfer device of the existing image forming apparatus. In this case, it is necessary to install a new ink supply device according to the transport direction of the recording medium at the time of image formation of the existing image forming device. However, the space for installing a new ink supply device is often limited, and even if it is difficult to install a new ink supply device or even if additional installation is possible, the operator will be efficient. In many cases, it was difficult to secure a working environment that could carry out good work.

Therefore, the present invention provides an ink supply device capable of improving the degree of freedom in the installation state for a transfer device for an image forming device that conveys a recording medium in one direction at the time of image formation. It is an object of the present invention and an image forming apparatus provided with such an ink supply apparatus.

The present invention for achieving such an object is an ink supply device for forming an image by supplying ink to a recording medium conveyed in one direction by a transfer device, and has a plurality of ink heads and the transfer device. The supply device main body is provided so as to be arranged over the transfer width direction of the transfer device perpendicular to the transfer direction of the recording medium, and the supply device main body is installed on the transfer device on the upstream side in the transfer direction. It has a surface facing upstream and a surface facing downstream in the transport direction, and is inverted in a plane including the transport direction and the transport width direction to face the upstream side in the transport direction and the downstream side in the transport direction. It is an ink supply device that can be installed on the transfer device in any bidirectional state in which the surface facing toward the surface is exchanged. The present invention is also an image forming apparatus provided with such an ink supply device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ink supply device capable of improving the degree of freedom in the installation state for a transfer device for an image forming device that conveys a recording medium in one direction at the time of image formation.

It is a schematic block diagram (the 1) of the ink supply apparatus and the image formation apparatus which concerns on embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram (No. 2) of the ink supply device and the image forming device according to the embodiment. It is a block diagram (the 1) of the head carriage which the ink supply device which concerns on embodiment has. It is a block diagram (the 2) of the head carriage which the ink supply device which concerns on embodiment has. It is a figure (the 1) which shows the installation example of the ink supply apparatus and the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure (the 2) which shows the installation example of the ink supply apparatus and the image forming apparatus which concerns on embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same components will be described with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram (No. 1) of the ink supply device and the image forming device according to the embodiment. Further, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram (No. 2) of the ink supply device and the image forming device according to the embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 shown in these figures is an apparatus for forming an image on the main surface of the recording medium P. The recording medium P is in the form of a sheet, and may be a single-wafer sheet or a continuous sheet. Further, as the recording medium P, various materials such as cloth such as cloth, plain paper, thick paper, thin paper, Japanese paper, special paper, corrugated cardboard, and resin film are used. Such an image forming device 1 includes a transfer device 10 and an ink supply device 20, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arrangement direction of the ink supply device 20 with respect to the transfer device 10 can be reversed. There is a characteristic. Hereinafter, detailed configurations of the transport device 10 and the ink supply device 20 included in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.

<< Transfer device 10 >>
The transport device 10 is a device that transports the recording medium P, and is, for example, a belt transport type as shown in the figure. The belt transport type transport device 10 is configured by hanging an endless belt around a plurality of rollers (not shown here). In such a transport device 10, the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt is used as the mounting surface 10a of the recording medium P, and the endless belt is rotated by the rotation of the roller to be fixed to the mounting surface 10a by suction. The sheet-shaped recording medium P is conveyed in the direction of rotation of the belt. In the illustrated example, the upwardly facing surface of the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt is the mounting surface 10a of the recording medium P.

The transport direction x of the recording medium P by such a transport device 10 is one transport direction x at the time of image formation, but is in the opposite direction [-] at the time of position adjustment of the recording medium P and maintenance of the image forming device 1. x] may be obtained.

<< Ink supply device 20 >>
The ink supply device 20 is a device that supplies ink to a recording medium P that is conveyed in a predetermined transfer direction x by the transfer device 10. The ink supply by the ink supply device 20 can be carried out over the transport width direction y of the mounting surface 10a in the transport device 10. Here, the transport width direction y is in a plane parallel to the mounting surface 10a and is a direction perpendicular to the transport direction x of the recording medium P by the transport device 10.

Such an ink supply device 20 is, for example, an inkjet type device, and is a device that injects ink at a predetermined timing onto a recording medium P that is conveyed in a predetermined transfer direction x by the transfer device 10. Ink is supplied to the medium P in a non-contact manner. The inkjet type ink supply device 20 may be a scan type or a single-pass type, but here, the scan type ink supply device 20 will be described as an example.

Such an ink supply device 20 includes a supply device main body 21, a control panel 22, an ink supply unit 23, and an operation unit 24, which are configured as follows.

<Supply device body 21>
The supply device main body 21 has a surface toward the upstream side and a surface toward the downstream side in the transport direction x in a state of being installed with respect to the transport device 10, and is in a plane including the transport direction x and the transport width direction y. It is configured so that it can be installed on the transport device 10 in any of the two-way states in which the surface facing the upstream side and the surface facing the downstream side in the transport direction x are exchanged by inverting. Such a supply device main body 21 includes a housing 21a and a head carriage 21b housed in the housing 21a. These configurations are as follows.

[Case 21a]
The housing 21a accommodates and holds the head carriage 21b and the components for operating the head carriage 21b, which will be described next. The housing 21a is arranged so as to face the mounting surface 10a over the transport width direction y of the mounting surface 10a in the transport device 10. In the illustrated example, the housing 21a is arranged above the mounting surface 10a which is arranged so as to face upward. In this case, the housing 21a is supported on the floor surface by the support legs 21aa on both sides of the transport device 10 in the transport width direction y, for example. The housing 21a is not limited to being supported on the floor surface as shown in the drawing, and is supported by, for example, a transport device 10, and further, the transport device 10 and the ink supply device 20 are installed. It may be supported by a part other than the floor surface of the building.

Such a housing 21a has an ink supply opening A on the surface of the transport device 10 toward the mounting surface 10a. The ink supply opening A is provided over the transport width direction y of the mounting surface 10a in the transport device 10, and the ink from the head carriage 21b covers the entire width direction of the recording medium P mounted on the mounting surface 10a. Can be supplied.

Further, the housing 21a has a surface toward the upstream side and a surface toward the downstream side in the transfer direction x in a state where the ink supply device 20 is installed with respect to the transfer device 10. Further, the housing 21a is provided with a maintenance opening B for maintaining the head carriage 21b and other components housed therein. In the illustrated example, a maintenance opening B is provided on a side peripheral portion of the housing 21a, in a state where the ink supply device 20 is installed on the transfer device 10, and a surface facing the downstream side in the transfer direction x. Is shown. However, the maintenance opening B is not limited to one place, and may be provided in a plurality of places as needed, including the top surface of the housing 21a, in a sufficient size.

Although not shown here, the maintenance opening B is provided with a door so that the maintenance opening B can be opened and closed freely. Further, inside the housing 21a, a track (not shown) for scanning the head carriage 21b in the transport width direction y may be provided inside the housing 21a.

In particular, the housing 21a as described above is bidirectionally inverted in a plane including the transport direction x and the transport width direction y, and the surface toward the downstream side and the surface toward the upstream side of the transport direction x are exchanged. In either state, the transfer device 10 is arranged so as to face the mounting surface 10a. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing 21a can be arranged with respect to the transport device 10 with the surface provided with the maintenance opening B facing the downstream side in the transport direction x. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the housing 21a can be arranged with respect to the transport device 10 in a state where the surface provided with the maintenance opening B faces the upstream side in the transport direction x.

[Head carriage 21b]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram (No. 1) of the head carriage included in the ink supply device according to the embodiment. Further, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram (No. 2) of the head carriage included in the ink supply device according to the embodiment. These figures are schematic views when the head carriage 21b is viewed from the bottom surface side, that is, the mounting surface 10a side of the transport device 10.

As shown in these figures, the head carriage 21b is housed in the housing 21a in a predetermined state while holding the plurality of ink heads 101, and is housed in the housing 21a in the transport width direction y. It is to be scanned. Such a head carriage 21b holds a plurality of head units 102 that hold the ink head 101, an ink supply driving unit 103, an ink supply control unit 104, and a head control unit 105.

− Head unit 102−
Each head unit 102 is provided corresponding to each ink color. The head units 102 of each color are, for example, a head unit 102c for cyan ink, a head unit 102m for magenta ink, a head unit 102y for yellow ink, and a head unit 102k for black ink. The head units 102 of each of these colors are arranged in an arbitrarily set color arrangement order along the transport width direction y. Further, the head unit 102 of each color can be freely changed in the arrangement order, or the connection with each supply pipe of the ink supply unit 23 described later can be freely changed.

Each head unit 102 holds a plurality of ink heads 101. Here, each ink head 101 has a plurality of rows of nozzle openings 101b on one nozzle surface 101a, and ink is ejected from each nozzle opening 101b at each timing. Each head unit 102 holds a plurality of ink heads 101 so that the nozzle surfaces 101a of each ink head 101 are arranged on the same surface. Further, in each head unit 102, a plurality of ink heads 101 are arranged alternately so that the nozzle openings 101b provided on the nozzle surface 101a of the held ink head 101 are arranged at the same intervals along the transport direction x. Hold in the state. The arrangement of the ink heads 101 in each head unit 102 may be the same.

Further, the head unit 102 corresponding to each color is in any bidirectional state in which the head unit 102 is inverted in the plane including the transport direction x and the transport width direction y, that is, in the plane where the opening direction of the nozzle opening 101b is maintained. It is a configuration held in 21b. As a result, the ink head 101 held in each head unit 102 is held in the head carriage 21b in a bidirectional state in which the ink head 101 is inverted in the plane including the transport direction x and the transport width direction y. ..

With such a configuration, the head held by the head carriage 21b even when the supply device main body 21 is inverted and arranged with respect to the transfer device 10 as described above (see FIGS. 1 and 2). By reversing the unit 102, it is possible to maintain the arrangement state of the ink head 101 with respect to the transport direction x and the transport width direction y before and after the reversal. In this case, the arrangement order of the head units 102 is further changed, or the connection of the supply pipes of the ink supply unit 23 to the head units 102 of each color is changed, so that the color arrangement order of the head units 102 with respect to the transport direction x and the transport width direction y is changed. Can also be maintained.

Therefore, with respect to the recording medium P conveyed in the transfer direction x by the transfer device 10, the supply device main body 21 may or may not be inverted in the plane including the transfer direction x and the transfer width direction y. Similar image formation is possible. As a result, the supply device main body 21 can be installed on the transfer device 10 in any of the two-way states inverted in the plane including the transfer direction x and the transfer width direction y of the recording medium P. There is.

As another configuration, the supply device main body 21 can be installed on the transfer device 10 in any bidirectional state in which the recording medium P is inverted in the plane including the transfer direction x and the transfer width direction y. The arrangement state of the ink head 101 in the unit 102 may be reversible. In this case, the head unit 102 held by the head carriage 21b does not have to be reversible in the head carriage 21b.

-Ink supply drive unit 103-
The ink supply drive unit 103 is a drive unit for supplying ink of each color supplied from the ink supply unit 23 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) described below to each ink head 101 for each head unit 102. .. Such an ink supply drive unit 103 includes a pump and a solenoid valve.

-Ink supply control unit 104-
The ink supply control unit 104 is a part for controlling the drive of the ink supply drive unit 103. Such an ink supply control unit 104 is configured by a computer such as a microcomputer. The computer includes a storage unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the CPU executes a program recorded in the ROM or the RAM. , Controls the supply of ink to each ink head 101.

-Head control unit 105-
The head control unit 105 controls the drive of the ink head 101 based on the signals from the operation unit 24 and the control panel 22 described below, whereby ink of each color is ejected from each nozzle opening 101b at each timing. .. Such a head control unit 105 is configured by a computer similar to the ink supply control unit 104, and the CPU controls the drive of each ink head 101 by executing a program recorded in the ROM or RAM.

It is assumed that the ink supply driving unit 103, the ink supply control unit 104, and the head control unit 105 as described above are arranged at the end of the head carriage 21b in the transport direction x, for example. As a result, even when the housing 21a is inverted and arranged with respect to the transport device 10 as described above (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the position of the head unit 102 with respect to the housing 21a in the transport width direction y. It is a configuration that can maintain.

<Control panel 22>
Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the control panel 22 contains electric components such as an electric control device and an electric device for electrically controlling the ink supply device 20. Such a control panel 22 may have a meter, a switch, or the like (not shown here).

Further, the control panel 22 may be fixed to the supply device main body 21 while maintaining an electrical connection state with the supply device main body 21, but the control panel 22 may be arranged independently at a position away from the supply device main body 21. There may be. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the control panel 22 can be arranged on the left side of the housing 21a with respect to the maintenance opening B on the opposite side to the maintenance opening B. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the control panel 22 can be arranged on the side opposite to the maintenance opening B of the housing 21a and on the right side with respect to the maintenance opening B. Although not shown here, the ink supply unit 23 can be arranged on either the left or right side of the housing 21a on the maintenance opening B side toward the maintenance opening B. The location of the maintenance opening B is not limited to the position shown in the figure.

<Ink supply unit 23>
The ink supply unit 23 supplies ink of each color to the ink head 101 in each head unit 102 held by the head carriage 21b via the ink supply drive unit 103. The ink supply unit 23 has a plurality of storage tanks (not shown) for storing ink of each color, and a plurality of supply pipes 23a for supplying ink from each storage tank to the ink head 101 of each head unit 102. .. Each supply pipe 23a includes a pump and is connected to the ink supply drive unit 103.

In particular, the ink supply unit 23 has a configuration independent of the supply device main body 21, and includes a supply pipe 23a having a sufficient length and a pump having a sufficient output, and is arbitrary with respect to the supply device main body 21. It is configured so that it can be placed at a position. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the ink supply unit 23 can be arranged on the side opposite to the maintenance opening B of the housing 21a and on the right side with respect to the maintenance opening B. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ink supply unit 23 can be arranged on the left side of the housing 21a with respect to the maintenance opening B on the opposite side to the maintenance opening B. Although not shown here, the ink supply unit 23 can be arranged on either the left or right side of the housing 21a on the maintenance opening B side toward the maintenance opening B. The location of the maintenance opening B is not limited to the position shown in the figure.

<Operation unit 24>
The operation unit 24 includes a user interface portion for inputting settings of an image formation job to be performed using the image formation device 1, and includes, for example, a display panel 24a and an operation button 24b. The operation button 24b may be a touch panel provided integrally with the display panel 24a. The setting of the image forming job by the operation unit 24 is, for example, the size of the recording medium P forming the image, the image formed on the recording medium P, the layout of the image, and the like.

Such an operation unit 24 may include a storage unit for holding image data and a computer for forming image data, in addition to a user interface such as a display panel 24a and an operation button 24b. The operation unit 24 that performs such an operation may be an operation unit of a personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus 1 or another external device.

Further, in particular, the operation unit 24 has a configuration independent of the supply device main body 21 in a wired or wireless connection state, and can be arranged at an arbitrary position with respect to the supply device main body 21. .. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 24 can be arranged on the maintenance opening B side of the housing 21a on the right side toward the maintenance opening B. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 24 can be arranged on the maintenance opening B side of the housing 21a on the left side with respect to the maintenance opening B. Although not shown here, the operation unit 24 can be arranged on either the left or right side of the housing 21a with respect to the maintenance opening B on the opposite side to the maintenance opening B. The location of the maintenance opening B is not limited to the position shown in the figure.

<< Effect of the embodiment >>
The ink supply device 20 of the embodiment described above can be installed in any bidirectional state reversed with respect to the transfer direction x of the transfer device 10, and the degree of freedom of the installation state with respect to the transfer device 10 is improved. It has been done. Thereby, for example, the direction of the maintenance opening B of the ink supply device 20 with respect to the transfer device 10 can be changed, and the arrangement position of the operation unit 14 can be freely arranged, so that the maintainability of the ink supply device 20 can be ensured. Is. Further, as described below, when a new ink supply device 20 is additionally installed with respect to the transfer device 10 of the existing image forming apparatus, it is possible to realize an installation state that enables efficient work. Can be done.

FIG. 5 is a diagram (No. 1) showing an installation example of the ink supply device and the image forming device according to the embodiment. Further, FIG. 6 is a diagram (No. 2) showing an installation example of the ink supply device and the image forming device according to the embodiment. These figures show the case where the ink supply device 20 is newly installed in addition to the existing image forming device 1a arranged in the limited installation space 1003 between the wall portion 1001 and the work passage 1002. An arrangement example of the ink supply device 20 of the above is shown.

Here, the existing image forming apparatus 1a includes the conveying device 10 described in the embodiment and the image forming unit 30 that forms an image on the recording medium P conveyed by the conveying device 10. The image forming unit 30 may be an ink supply device, a printing device that performs screen printing, or the like, and may be singular or plural.

When the ink supply device 20 described in the previous embodiment is additionally installed in such an existing image forming apparatus 1a, the maintenance opening B is directed toward the existing image forming portion 30 side as shown in FIG. The ink supply device 20 may be arranged in. In this case, by arranging the operation unit 24 on the passage 1002 side and the maintenance opening B side, the operator Op between the operation unit 24 of the ink supply device 20, the maintenance opening B, and the existing image forming unit 30. Workability can be ensured by shortening the work flow line. Further, by arranging the ink supply unit 23 on the passage 1002 side and on the side opposite to the operation unit 24 with the supply device main body 21 interposed therebetween, the operation and maintenance work by the operator Op is not hindered, and the ink supply unit 23 The replacement work of the storage tank can be facilitated. Further, the control panel 22 which is not normally operated can be arranged on the wall portion 1001 side opposite to the passage 1002.

Further, when the space [d] between the image forming unit 30 and the ink supply device 20 cannot be sufficiently provided due to the installation space 1003, the maintenance opening B is provided in the existing image forming unit 30 as shown in FIG. The ink supply device 20 may be arranged so as to face the opposite side. In this case, by arranging the operation unit 24 on the maintenance opening B side on the passage 1002 side, the work flow line of the operator Op between the operation unit 24 of the ink supply device 20 and the maintenance opening B is shortened. Sex can be ensured. Further, by arranging the ink supply unit 23 on the passage 1002 side and on the side opposite to the operation unit 24 with the supply device main body 21 in between, the operation and maintenance work by the operator Op is not hindered, and the ink supply unit 23 The replacement work of the storage tank can be facilitated. Further, the control panel 22 which is not normally operated can be arranged on the wall portion 1001 side opposite to the passage 1002. The location of the maintenance opening B is an example and is not limited to the position shown in the drawing.

≪Modification example≫
The ink supply device 20 described above has been described as having a configuration in which the arrangement state of the ink head 101 can be reversed in the head carriage 21b, as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. However, the ink supply device 20 of the present invention relates to the transfer device 10 in any bidirectional state in which the supply device main body 21 is inverted in the plane including the transfer direction x and the transfer width direction y of the recording medium P. Any other configuration that can be installed may be used. As another example of such a configuration, a configuration in which the arrangement state of the ink head 101 in the head carriage 21b is fixed and a data processing unit for performing inversion processing of the image to be formed can be exemplified.

Such a data processing unit may be provided on the control panel 22. In this case, it is assumed that the control panel 22 is provided with a computer such as a microcomputer. The data processing unit may have a dedicated program installed in the computer of the control panel 22, and the CPU constituting the computer executes the program recorded in the ROM or RAM to execute the operation unit 24 or the outside. A process of inverting the image data input from the device is performed.

Further, the data processing unit is not limited to being provided in the control panel 22, and may be provided in the operation unit 24 or the head control unit 105 provided in the head carriage 21b. If it is provided in the operation unit 24, it is assumed that the operation unit 24 is provided with a computer such as a microcomputer. The data processing unit may have a dedicated program for inverting image data installed in the calculator of such an operation unit 24. When the data processing unit is provided in the head control unit 105, the data processing unit may install a dedicated program for inverting the image data in the head control unit 105.

Even with the configuration of the modified example as described above, the same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.

1 ... Image forming device 10 ... Conveying device 10a ... Mounting surface 20 ... Ink supply device 21 ... Supply device main body 21a ... Housing 21aa ... Support legs 21b ... Head carriage 22 ... Control panel 23 ... Ink supply unit 23a ... Supply piping 24 ... Operation unit 24a ... Display panel 24b ... Operation button 101 ... Ink head 101a ... Nozzle surface 101b ... Nozzle opening 102 ... Head unit 102k ... Head unit 102c ... Head unit 102m ... Head unit 102y ... Head unit 103 ... Ink supply drive unit 104 … Ink supply control unit 105… Head control unit

Claims (10)

An ink supply device for forming an image by supplying ink to a recording medium conveyed in one direction by a transfer device.
A supply device main body having a plurality of ink heads and arranged over the transfer width direction of the transfer device perpendicular to the transfer direction of the recording medium by the transfer device is provided.
The supply device main body has a surface facing the upstream side in the transport direction and a surface facing the downstream side in the transport direction in a state of being installed on the transport device, and includes the transport direction and the transport width direction. An ink supply device that can be installed on the transport device in either bidirectional state in which the surface facing the upstream side in the transport direction and the surface facing the downstream side in the transport direction are exchanged by inversion in the plane. .. The supply device main body has a housing for accommodating the ink heads with the nozzle openings of the plurality of ink heads oriented in one direction.
The ink supply device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ink heads are housed in the housing in any bidirectional state in which the nozzle openings are inverted while maintaining the opening direction. The supply device main body has a head carriage that scans the ink heads in the transport width direction while holding the plurality of ink heads in the housing.
The ink supply device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of ink heads are held in the head carriage in a state of being arranged along the transport width direction. The ink supply device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of ink heads can be arranged in a changeable order in the head carriage. A data processing unit for processing image data of an image formed by supplying ink from the nozzle openings of the plurality of ink heads to the recording medium is provided.
The ink supply device according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit performs a process of inverting the image data. The ink supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a functional unit arranged independently of the main body of the supply device. The functional unit is at least one of an ink supply unit for supplying ink to the supply device main body, an operation unit for operating the supply device main body, and a control panel for electrically controlling the supply device main body. The ink supply device according to claim 6. A transport device for transporting a recording medium and an ink supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 are provided.
The transport device is an image forming device that transports the recording medium in one direction when the image is formed by the ink supply device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the transfer device is of a belt transfer type. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium conveyed in one direction by the conveying apparatus.

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