JP2653767B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a conveyed recording sheet by an image forming station including a recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional image recording apparatus of this type, a roll-shaped recording paper is reciprocated to an image forming processing station including a single recording head and a developing apparatus to which developers of different colors are applied. There is an electrostatic color plotter or the like that forms images of different colors on the same sheet of recording paper by superimposing them.

[0003] For example, FIG. 5 shows the configuration of an electrostatic color plotter which is presented in the 5th Non-Impact Printing Technology Symposium, Vol. 101, sponsored by the Society of Electrophotography, and is commercialized as Model EC-42 of Versatech, USA. FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a roll-shaped electrostatic recording paper wound around a supply roller 2. 3 is a write head and its servo mechanism, and 4 is a back electrode of the write head. Reference numerals 5 to 8 denote developing heads to which liquid developers of different colors are applied, 9 denotes a paper feed roller and its servo mechanism, and 10 denotes a take-up roller for recorded recording paper. Reference numerals 11 to 14 denote storage boards for storing recording information, and 15 denotes a controller for sending image information to the write head and controlling the operation of the apparatus.

When performing image recording, the recording paper 1
From the supply roller 2 to a processing station such as a writing head unit and a developing head unit and to a winding roller 10 via a paper feed roller 9. Recording is performed while the recording paper 1 is conveyed in the right-hand direction. One of the developing heads 5 to 8 is raised and set to an operation position, and an electrostatic latent image of a predetermined image is formed by the writing head 3 and raised. The image is visualized by the developing head. The recording paper is fed until recording of one screen for one color image is completed, and then the recording paper is rewound to the initial position. The recording of the next color is performed in the same manner by raising the developing head of another color. When the recording of four colors including the three primary colors or black is performed, the recorded recording paper 1 is wound up by the take-up roller 10, and the recording of the next screen is performed on the subsequent recording paper portion.

[0005]

In the above-described apparatus, the completed recording images are successively wound on the take-up roller 10, so that when taking out the image, the paper feed roller 9 and the take-up roller 10 In the meantime, after the recording paper 1 is cut by a manual operation, the recorded recording paper 1 must be unwound from the take-up roller 10 and taken out, and cut every screen. However, the plotter often outputs a large amount of images, and it is not easy to rewind and cut the recording paper 1 by manual operation. Therefore, the apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 is extremely inconvenient for taking out or cutting a recorded image. Further, when a small amount of image is recorded, it is possible to cut out the recorded recording paper 1 every time recording is completed, but it is possible to cut out the unrecorded recording paper 1 after cutting.
Must be wound around the winding roller 10.
Therefore, the operation is very troublesome, and an unrecorded recording paper portion is consumed in large quantities, which is extremely inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus that consumes very little unrecorded recording paper.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has taken the following means in order to solve the above problems and achieve the object. That is, it has an image forming processing station for forming an image on a recording paper, and a recording paper conveying roller provided downstream of the image forming processing station, and reciprocates the recording paper with respect to the image forming processing station. In an image recording apparatus for forming an image on the same surface of a recording sheet, a recording sheet cutting section for cutting the recording sheet after the completion of image formation is provided downstream of the recording sheet conveying roller, and when recording images for a plurality of screens, In the recording paper on which images for a plurality of screens have been formed, only the preceding screen portion is cut off by the recording paper cutting section while leaving at least one screen image, and the next image formation is performed following the remaining screen. I did it.

[0008]

By taking such measures, the problem caused by the configuration of the conventional apparatus for continuously winding the recording paper on the take-up roller, that is, the problem that a large amount of recording paper is consumed without forming a recorded image. Can be removed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, an electrostatic color plotter studied by the present inventors and suitable for the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a roll-shaped recording paper; 21, a recording paper supply roller; 22, a guide roller; 23, a multi-stylus electrostatic recording head; 24, a back electrode roller; 25 to 28, liquid developers of different colors; The developing heads 29, 30 and 31 are recording paper transport rollers.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a recording paper storage unit, 41 denotes a rotation support shaft, 42 denotes a recording paper guide plate, 43 denotes a cylindrical guide plate,
44 is a support shaft, 45 is a winding guide plate, 46 is a winding roller, and 47 is a recording paper discharge passage. 50 is an auto cutter, 51 is a rotary cutter, 52 is a guide plate, and 53 is a roller cutter. 61 and 62 are side covers, 63 is an opening / closing cover, 64 is a window, and 65 and 66 are partition plates. Reference numeral 70 denotes an electronic cooling device made of, for example, a Peltier effect element, 71 denotes a water drop receiver, 72 denotes a blower, and 73 denotes a drain pipe.

Although not shown, the recording paper supply roller 21, the recording paper transport roller 30, the winding roller 46 and the like are provided with a rotating means such as a motor,
Is formed. Recording head 2
3 and the developing heads 25 to 28 constitute an image forming processing station. Prior to the start of recording, the recording paper 20 is unwound from the supply roller 21, guided to the recording paper transport rollers 29, 30, 31 via the image forming processing station, slightly over the nip between the rollers 30 and 31, and Set so that the tip is located slightly before the guide means.
The guide plate 42 has one end supported by the rotation support shaft 41,
Although the position can be switched between the solid line position and the dotted line position, it is normally set to be switched to the solid line position.

At the time of recording, a recording signal voltage is applied to the recording head 23 while conveying the recording paper 20 in the right-hand direction, and one of the developing heads 25 to 28, for example, 25 is raised to an operating state. Then, the latent image is recorded and developed on the recording paper 20. The leading end of the recording paper 20 is a guide 4
2. By the action of the cylindrical guide plate 43 and the winding guide plate 44, the sheet is wound around the winding roller 46 rotating counterclockwise, and is temporarily stored in the recording paper storage unit 40.
When the recording of one screen with the color selected first is completed, the feeding of the recording paper 20 is stopped, and the developing head 25 is lowered and becomes inactive. Thereafter, the recording paper 20 is sent in the left-hand direction and wound on the supply roller 21. Then, when the leading end of the recording paper 20 reaches a portion slightly beyond the nip of the recording paper transport rollers 30, 31, the recording paper reverse feed stops. From this state, the recording paper is fed to the right again in the figure, and the image recording of the second color is performed. At this time, in order to form images of different colors on top of each other, the developing head to which liquid developers of different colors are applied is raised and operated, and
The recording is performed by repeating the same steps as described above while supplying a recording signal voltage corresponding to each color.

Prior to the start of the process of forming the final color image, the guide plate 42 is switched to the position indicated by the dotted line. When recording starts, the leading end of the recording paper 20 is moved to the recording paper discharge passage 4.
The recording paper portion that has moved toward 7 and has completed recording is discharged to the outside of the cover 63 as recording proceeds. The discharged recording paper 20 is guided by a guide plate 52, and cut in the recording paper length direction by a rotary cutter 51 in an auto cutter 50, and a roller cutter 53 is provided.
Thereby, cutting in the recording paper width direction is performed. In the process of forming a multi-color image, after the rear end of the recording screen has passed through the developing device, the recording paper is fed to a position advanced a little distance,
Then, in the last color image forming step, the recording screen is fed and stopped until the rear end of the recording screen reaches the operating area of the cutter, which is the cutting position of the recording paper 20, that is, the position of the rotary cutter 51. I do. When the auto cutter 50 is not attached, the recording paper 20 is supplied to the recording paper discharge passage 4.
7, the position is the recording sheet cutting position.

According to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, when forming a multi-color superimposed image, the recorded recording paper 20 can be taken out of the apparatus in a sheet form, and can be taken out by the automatic cutter 50 or manual operation. It is very easy to cut to a predetermined size, and there is no troublesomeness, and it is possible to reduce as much as possible a portion of the recording paper that is wastefully consumed without forming a recorded image. Further, even when a large number of recorded images are formed, the cutting can be automatically performed by the auto cutter 50, so that the operability is remarkably superior to the conventional apparatus.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the recording image is continuously wound by a take-up roller, which is an obstacle to taking out the recording image one by one or cutting out the recording image. . Similarly, in a conventional monochrome electrostatic color plotter, the recording paper that has already been recorded is simply sent out of the apparatus from the discharge passage. If it is attempted to manufacture according to the configuration, there is a disadvantage that the discharge / rewind of the recording paper is not smoothly performed as the size of the recording image becomes longer.

In the present apparatus, since the recording paper accommodating section 40 for temporarily accommodating the recording paper in the middle of recording is provided, the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and obstacles are eliminated. Further, in the present apparatus, the recording paper 20 extends from the supply roller 21 to the recording paper container 40 via the image forming portion, except for the recording paper discharge passage 47, except for the covers 61 to 63, the window 64, and the partition plate. 65 and 66, and a dehumidifying means including an electronic cooling device 70, a water drop receiver 71, a blower 72, and a drain pipe 73 is provided in the envelope. The components of the recording apparatus such as the recording paper 20 and the developing heads 25 to 28 in the middle are protected from the high humidity environment, and the recording is stabilized.
In particular, since a change in the size of the recording paper during recording is prevented, an important operational effect such as a color shift of the superimposed image can be prevented.

FIG. 1 shows a case where the recording paper 20 is sent to the paper discharge passage 47 in the step of forming the last color image during the recording process of one screen. At the time of forming a color image, the recording paper 20 is accommodated in the recording paper accommodating section 40, and after the recording of one screen is completed, the leading end of the recording paper is rewound to near the nip portion of the transport rollers 30 and 31, and the guide plate 42 is moved. Switch to the dotted line position and discharge path 4
7. This makes it possible to completely prevent electrical and mechanical failures caused by the operation of the cutter during image recording.

As described above, the example shown in FIG. 1 has many advantages as compared with the conventional multicolor image forming apparatus in which the recording paper is wound around the winding roller. When the device 50 is mounted, it is possible to realize a device that is extremely superior in operability. An example of a specific operation mode will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
The portions indicated by the dotted lines in (a) to (e) are simplified illustrations of the components of the multicolor image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The solid line indicates the recording paper 20, the thick arrow A indicates the head of the image forming area, and B indicates the rear end.

FIG. 2A shows a state in which the recording paper 20 can be set and recording can be started. The leading end of the recording paper 20 is located at the downstream side of the nip portion of the recording paper transport rollers 30 and 31, and guide means is provided. It is located in front of. The arrow A is the head of the image forming area, and from this part onward, the recording paper is consumed without forming an image. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the image forming process for the first color has been completed and the feeding of the recording paper 20 has been stopped. The arrow B is the rear end of the image, and most of the recorded image portion is the winding roller 43 of the recording paper storage unit 40.
It is caught in. After the trailing edge of the recorded image passes through the developing head unit, it may be affected by a suction drying head or the like (not shown). In some cases, the developer may adhere to the recording paper 20 to form stains. Therefore, the recording paper 20 in that part is handled as a consumable part accompanying the recording, so that the recording paper 20 is slightly fed after passing through the developing head unit.

In the process of superimposing and forming an image of another color, the recording paper 20 is rewound to the position shown in FIG. 2A, and then the recording paper 20 is formed to the position shown in FIG. Is repeated. FIG. 2C shows a step in the process of forming the final color image. As a result of the guide plate 42 moving to the illustrated position, the recording paper 20 is conveyed toward the cutters 51 and 53 via the recording paper discharge passage 47. Arrow A indicates the head of the image section. First, the recording paper 20 is cut at the front end of the screen and then at the rear end.

FIG. 2D shows the completion of image formation for the final color.
Further, a state is shown in which the recording paper 20 has been fed to the cutter 51 in order to cut the trailing edge of the image. At this time, the guide plate 4 is located downstream of the nip portion between the transport rollers 30 and 31.
The portion on the front side of No. 2 is indicated by an arrow C, and this position is the position where the recording paper 20 is set first. When the recording operation is completed in this state, the following problems occur. One is that the recording paper portion between the arrows B and C is excessively consumed without forming a recording, and the second is that the leading end of the recording paper 20 is introduced into the guide plate 42 in this state. The point is that you cannot do that.

Therefore, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience, in the present apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2E, the recording paper 20 is cut at the rear end of the screen, and the leading end of the cut roll paper is fed to the transport rollers 30, After rewinding so as to be located between the nip portion 31 and the guide plate 42, the next recording is performed. As a result, the leading end of the recording paper 20 is
And the amount of recording paper consumed without forming an image can be reduced.

In the recording paper feed control of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 shown in FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (e), the recording paper 2 existing between the recording paper passages from the recording head 23 to the conveying roller nip is provided.
0 is consumed without forming a record. This is a problem in that it always occurs every time an image is formed.
There is still room for improvement. Therefore, next, an embodiment of the present invention in which such a problem is improved will be described.

FIGS. 3A to 3F are diagrams showing recording paper feed control in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
The portion indicated by the dotted line in (f) is the same as in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of components of the multicolor image forming apparatus shown in FIG. The recording paper container 40 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3F has a space capable of accommodating the recording paper 20 for two screens. First, the steps up to the point where the recording paper 20 is set and the first screen is formed are the same as those shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The image formation of the last color for forming the first screen is performed in the same manner as the color image formation in the middle process, and the state at the end of the image formation process of the last color is shown in FIG.
The state is as shown in FIG. When recording the succeeding screen, the recording is performed without cutting the preceding screen.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which the recording paper 20 is rewound prior to the start of recording of the next screen, and stopped so that the rear end of the preceding screen comes near the recording head 23. In the figure, arrow B indicates the rear end of the preceding screen,
A 'indicates the leading end of the subsequent screen. At this time, a part of the preceding screen is stored in the recording paper storage unit 40. FIG.
(B) shows a state in which the recording of the subsequent screen is started from the above state, and the recording of the first color of the screen is completed. Arrow B 'indicates the rear end of the subsequent screen. The next color image is formed while rewinding the recording paper 20 to the position shown in FIG. 3A and then transporting the recording paper 20 to the position shown in FIG.

FIG. 3C shows that the recording paper 20 is rewound to cut the preceding recording screen after the final color image of the succeeding screen is formed in this manner, and the leading end of the preceding screen is recorded. At the same time as the position of the head 23, the leading end of the recording paper 20 escapes from the recording paper accommodating portion 40 and is stopped in a state slightly downstream of the nip portion of the transport rollers 30, 31, and the guide plate 42 is switched to This shows a state in which the recording paper 20 is guided to a discharge passage.

FIG. 3D shows the state after the front and rear end portions of the preceding screen of the recording paper 20 have been fed to the cutter 50 and cut. Arrow B indicates the rear end of the preceding screen, and A 'indicates the front end of the subsequent screen. FIG. 3E shows a state in which the leading end of the cut recording paper 20 is rewound so as to reach the entrance of the guide plate 42, and the guide plate 42 is returned to the original position to prepare for the next recording.

FIG. 3F shows a state in which the recording paper 20 is fed so that the leading end of the third screen is positioned at the recording head 23, and a third image is formed from this position. ing. B 'is the end of the second screen, A "is 3
Shows the tip of the second screen. At this time, part of the second screen is housed in the recording paper housing unit 40, and FIG.
A state similar to that of FIG.

In the configuration examples of FIGS. 3A to 3F, if there is no subsequent screen, the recorded screen portion is sent out and cut. It is desirable to stop the operation. As described above, in the present embodiment, the subsequent image recording and the cutting of the preceding screen are repeated so as to continue the recording while always leaving one screen portion. Recording paper portion can be minimized.

An apparatus for cutting a screen formed on a continuous sheet is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-60-172497.
However, when cutting the recording paper as shown in these examples, a code mark indicating the cutting position is recorded in advance at the time of image formation at the side of the recording screen,
It is preferable to read this with a cutter device and cut it. In particular, in the case of an apparatus that cuts the preceding screen after two screens are formed as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3F, cutter control using a code mark is extremely advantageous in simplifying a control system.

Further, as in the present apparatus, the developing heads 25 to 30 are disposed between the recording head 23 and the conveying rollers 29, 30, 31.
28, there is a long recording paper transport path between the recording head 23 and the transport rollers 29, 30, and 31, and in order to transport the recording paper 20, the recording head 23 A leader portion is required in the recording paper path from the feed roller section to the transport roller section. In the examples of FIGS. 3A to 3F, by using the previously formed screen portion as the leader portion, the recording paper portion consumed without forming a record can be minimized.

Next, a modification of the present invention will be described. In the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it is necessary to change the recording paper discharge path in a state where the cut recording paper 20 is returned to the entrance of the guide plate 42. By changing the arrangement and the configuration of the guide means, it is possible to change the recording paper discharge path to the recording paper storage section side without rewinding the recording paper 20 after cutting the cutter. A specific example will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a modification of the present invention.
Only the configuration of members downstream of the recording paper transport roller unit is shown. 81 is a recording paper discharge passage, and 82 is a guide plate. The guide plate 82 can be switched between a position shown by a solid line and a position shown by a dotted line. When the recorded recording paper 20 is to be cut, the guide plate 82 is located at the position indicated by the solid line and the recording paper 20 is sent out through the recording paper discharge passage 81 in the cutter direction. When the recording paper is temporarily stored, the guide plate 82 is moved to a position indicated by a dotted line and fed into the recording paper storage unit 40.

Recording paper 2 cut by cutter 51
The leading end held by the conveying roller of No. 0 is located at the blade portion of the cutter. However, when the guide plate 82 is moved from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the dotted line, the guide plate 82 is further wound around the conveying roller 30 and is positioned inside the guide plate 82. Be drawn in. Therefore, the leading end of the recording paper cut by the cutter can be directly guided to the storage section 40 without rotating the transport roller 30 in the rewinding direction. Therefore, the control of the recording paper conveyance can be greatly simplified as compared with the recording paper conveyance control described with reference to FIG.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the electrostatic recording type multicolor image forming apparatus as an example, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The present invention is also applicable to those using electrophotographic photosensitive paper. Also, the components of the apparatus, for example, the configuration of the recording paper storage unit and the like can be arbitrarily changed. In addition, it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0036]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus which consumes very little unrecorded recording paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the configuration of an electrostatic color plotter studied by the present inventors and suitable for the present invention, with a cover portion cut away.

FIG. 2 is a diagram specifically showing a state of recording paper feed control in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram specifically showing a state of recording paper feed control in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration of a main part in a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 20 roll-shaped recording paper 21 supply roller 23 recording head 24 back electrode 25 to 28 developing head 29, 30, 31 transporting roller 40 recording paper storage part 41 rotation support shaft 42 guide plate 43 cylindrical guide plate 44 support shaft 45 winding Roll-in guide plate 46 Roll-in roller 47 Recording paper discharge passage 50 Auto cutter 51 Rotary cutter 52 Guide plate 53 Roller cutter 61-63 Cover 64 Window 70 Electronic cooling device 71 Water drop receiver 72 Blower 73 Drain tube 81 Recording paper discharge passage 82 Guide plate

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/10 G03G 15/10 // B65H 20/04 B65H 20/04 A

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An image forming station for forming an image on a recording sheet, and a recording sheet conveying roller provided downstream of the image forming station, reciprocating the recording sheet to and from the image forming station. An image recording apparatus for forming an image on the same surface of a recording sheet by moving the recording sheet is provided with a recording sheet cutting section for cutting the recording sheet after completion of image formation on a downstream side of the recording sheet conveying roller, At the time of image recording, at least one screen portion of the recording paper on which images for a plurality of screens are formed is cut off at the recording paper cutting section, and only the preceding screen portion is cut off. An image recording apparatus characterized by being continuously performed. 2. An image forming station for forming an image on a recording sheet, and a recording sheet conveying roller provided downstream of the image forming station, and conveying the recording sheet to the image forming station. An image recording apparatus for forming an image on recording paper by providing a recording paper cutting section for cutting the recording paper after the completion of image formation downstream of the recording paper transport roller; The recording paper cutting section separates only the preceding screen portion while leaving at least one screen image out of the recording paper on which the screen image is formed, and performs the next image formation following the remaining screen. An image recording apparatus characterized by the following. 3. A recording paper storage unit provided downstream of the recording paper conveyance roller and capable of temporarily storing at least two screen images, the recording paper conveyance roller, the recording paper storage unit, and recording. A switching guide means provided between the paper cutting section and the leading end of the recording paper to either the recording paper storage section or the recording paper cutting section; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein during the image forming step for at least two screens, the recording paper is guided to the recording paper accommodating portion, and then the leading end of the recording paper is guided to the recording paper cutting portion. Item 2. The image recording device according to item 1.