JP3871026B2 - Platen and ink jet recording apparatus including the platen - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention performs recording on the recording paper by alternately repeating the operation of reciprocating the recording head for ejecting ink onto the recording paper in the main scanning direction and the operation of transporting the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction. In the ink jet recording apparatus, the platen for regulating the distance between the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording paper in a state where the recording paper conveyed in the sub-scanning direction is in sliding contact, and the ink jet type equipped with the platen The present invention relates to a recording apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Inkjet recording that performs recording on recording paper by alternately repeating the operation of reciprocating a recording head for ejecting ink onto the recording paper in the main scanning direction and the operation of conveying the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction. In the apparatus, an ink jet recording apparatus having a borderless printing function for performing borderless printing on the entire surface of the recording paper without providing margins on four sides of the recording paper is known.
[0003]
In general, an ink jet recording apparatus is disposed in a recording execution area of a recording head so as to face the head surface of the recording head, and the recording paper is in sliding contact with the head surface of the recording head and the recording paper. A platen having a plurality of ribs for regulating the distance from the recording surface is provided. The ink jet recording apparatus having the borderless printing function described above is an ink receiving unit for discarding ink protruding from the end of the recording paper when ejecting ink without a margin to the end of the recording paper. Is formed on the platen. The ink discarded in the ink receiving portion flows into the ink storing portion via the ink discharge path, and is absorbed by the ink absorbing material provided in the ink storing portion.
[0004]
By the way, in general, a liquid is attracted to the center by an attractive force acting between the liquid molecules, so that the liquid tends to contract by itself and take a surface area as small as possible. Have. The surface tension is what this property appears as a kind of tension along the surface. Due to this property of the liquid, the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion is affected by the wettability of the ink, in other words, the adsorption force between the ink and the wall surface of the platen. A so-called capillary phenomenon occurs that adsorbs at an acute corner portion and travels through the corner portion and rises against gravity.
[0005]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion of the platen in the prior art has risen against the gravity through the corner portion of the inner wall of the ink receiving portion by capillary action, FIG. 7 is a plan view thereof.
[0006]
In the platen 52, an ink receiving portion that discharges the ink 10 protruding from the end of the recording paper and discards the ink 10 protruding from the end of the recording paper on a bond that performs borderless printing on the end of the recording paper 523 is formed. The ink receiving portion 523 is a hole elongated in the width direction of the recording paper having a substantially rectangular shape, and the corner portion 523a is formed at a substantially right angle as shown in the drawing. Thus, the ink 10 discarded to the ink receiving portion 523 is adsorbed by the wettability of the ink 10 to the corner portion 523a in which the flat inner wall surface is orthogonal to the acute angle, and the adsorbed ink 10a is Due to the capillary phenomenon, a phenomenon of rising against the gravity through the corner portion 523a occurs.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the ink 10a adsorbed to the acute corner portion 523a on the inner wall of the ink receiving portion 523 rises against the gravity through the corner portion 523a by capillary action, so that the ink 10a becomes the ink receiving portion 523. There is a risk of spilling outside. Then, there is a possibility that the ink 10a that has flowed out of the ink receiving portion 523 adheres to the surface of the platen 52 where the recording paper comes into sliding contact, and the back surface of the recording paper becomes dirty with the ink 10a.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is that the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion during borderless printing is prevented from flowing out of the ink receiving portion, and the ink receiving portion This is to reduce the risk of the discarded ink adhering to the recording paper.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 of the present application relates to a carriage that reciprocates a recording head that ejects ink onto a recording sheet in the main scanning direction, and recording that conveys the recording sheet in the sub-scanning direction. In a state where the paper transporting unit and the recording paper transported by the recording paper transporting unit are in sliding contact with each other, the distance between the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording paper is regulated, and the end of the recording paper A platen of an ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a platen having an ink receiving portion for discarding the ink protruding from an end portion of the recording paper when the ink is ejected without a margin; The shape of the corner portion of the inner wall of the receiving portion is a curved surface so as to prevent the ink from rising at the corner portion due to capillary action, and is discarded in the ink receiving portion. An ink discharge path communicating with the ink storage section for storing the ink, and an ink guide groove for guiding the ink stored in the ink reception section to the ink discharge path of the ink reception section. A platen characterized by being formed at the bottom.
[0010]
As described above, since the corner portion of the inner wall of the ink receiving portion formed on the platen has a curved surface shape, a narrow space in which the inner wall of the platen where the above-described capillary phenomenon occurs is confronted at a narrow interval. Can not be formed in the corner part. Therefore, the phenomenon in which the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion rises against the gravity at the corner portion by the capillary phenomenon does not occur. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion from flowing out of the ink receiving portion.
[0011]
As a result, according to the platen according to the first aspect of the present invention, at the time of borderless printing in the ink jet recording apparatus, the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion is prevented from flowing out of the ink receiving portion. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to reduce the possibility that the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion adheres to the recording paper.
According to the platen of the first aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described effect, the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion is communicated with the ink storing portion by the guide groove formed in the bottom portion of the ink receiving portion. Since the ink is actively guided toward the ink discharge path, the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion does not easily remain in the ink receiving portion, and the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion may adhere to the recording paper. The effect of being able to be less can be obtained.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the platen guides the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction while regulating a distance between a head surface of the recording head and a recording surface of the recording paper. A plurality of ribs are formed, and a part of the ribs protrudes to the ink receiving portion, and a boundary portion between the rib protruding to the ink receiving portion and the inner wall of the ink receiving portion is The platen is characterized by having a curved surface shape so as to prevent the ink from rising at the boundary due to capillary action.
[0013]
The plurality of ribs define a gap between the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording paper, and the recording paper is caused by a so-called cockling phenomenon in which ink penetrates into the recording surface of the recording paper and the recording paper undulates. Minimizes the change in the gap between the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording paper due to floating of the platen from the platen. Since this rib has a shape that protrudes from the ink receiving portion, the rib that should be ideally formed without interruption in the sub-scanning direction on the platen is reduced by the ink receiving portion. Reduction of the rib effect due to the ink receiving portion being formed on the platen can be reduced.
[0014]
And since the boundary part of the protruding part of a plurality of ribs and the inner wall of the ink receiving part forms a curved surface, the narrow space where the inner wall of the platen where the capillary phenomenon described above confronts at a narrow interval, It cannot be formed at the boundary portion between the rib and the inner wall of the ink receiving portion. Therefore, ink that has been discarded by the ink receiving portion at the boundary portion between the rib and the inner wall of the ink receiving portion is prevented from rising due to capillary action against gravity and flowing out of the ink receiving portion. Can do.
[0015]
Thus, according to the platen according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function and effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of ribs project from the portion protruding from the ink receiving portion to the ink receiving portion. Since it is possible to prevent the discarded ink from flowing out, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion adheres to the recording paper. In addition, since the ribs have a shape that protrudes to the ink receiving part, the change in the gap between the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording paper due to the cockling phenomenon is minimized. The effect of reducing the possibility that the effect of suppressing the reduction by the interruption of the rib at the ink receiving portion can be obtained.
[0018]
A third aspect of the present invention is the platen according to the first or second aspect, wherein the ink receiving portion is provided with an ink absorbing material.
[0019]
According to the platen of the invention of claim 3 of the present application, in addition to the operational effects of the invention of claim 1 or 2 of the present application, the ink discarded in the ink receiver is arranged in the ink receiver. Since it is configured to be absorbed by the absorbent material, there is an effect that the risk that the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion may adhere to the recording paper can be reduced.
[0020]
The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is an ink jet recording apparatus provided with the platen according to any one of claims 1 to 3. According to the ink jet recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to obtain the effect of the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part thereof.
[0022]
The ink jet recording apparatus 50 is supported by two carriage guide shafts 51 attached to a housing 59 as recording means for executing recording on recording paper P such as plain paper or photo-dedicated paper, and is in the main scanning direction. A carriage 61 that moves to X is provided. A recording head 62 that performs recording by ejecting ink onto the recording paper P is mounted on the carriage 61. A platen 52 that defines a gap between the head surface 62 a of the recording head 62 and the recording paper P is provided facing the recording head 62. The carriage 61 is transported in the main scanning direction X, and ink is ejected from the head surface 62a of the recording head 62 onto the recording paper P while the recording paper P is transported between the carriage 61 and the platen 52 in the sub-scanning direction Y. Thus, recording is performed on the recording paper P.
[0023]
In addition, the ink jet recording apparatus 50 has a configuration capable of feeding recording paper P such as plain paper or photo-dedicated paper, and is not shown in the figure, an automatic paper feeder (ASF: auto sheet feeder, hereinafter ASF). Is provided. The ASF is an automatic paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roller, a separation pad and the like not shown. Due to the rotational driving force of the paper feed roller and the frictional resistance of the separation pad, when a plurality of recording papers P placed on the paper feed tray 57 are fed, the plurality of recording papers P are not fed at a time. Each sheet is automatically fed accurately.
[0024]
Further, the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is provided with a transport driving roller 53 and a transport driven roller 54 as recording paper transporting means for intermittently transporting the fed recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y. The conveyance driving roller 53 is rotationally controlled by a rotational driving force source, and the recording paper P is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the conveyance driving roller 53. A plurality of transport driven rollers 54 are provided and are individually urged by the transport drive roller 53, and contact the recording paper P when the recording paper P is transported by the rotation of the transport driving roller 53. Rotates following the conveyance.
[0025]
Further, the ink jet recording apparatus 50 is provided with a paper discharge driving roller 55 and a paper discharge driven roller 56 as means for discharging the recorded recording paper P. The paper discharge driving roller 55 is controlled to rotate by a rotational driving force source, and the recording paper P is discharged in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the paper discharge driving roller 55. A plurality of paper discharge driven rollers 56 are provided on the paper discharge frame 63, have a plurality of teeth around them, and have teeth that are sharply sharpened so that the tips of the teeth point-contact the recording surface of the recording paper P. It is a roller. The paper discharge driven rollers 56 are individually urged by the paper discharge drive rollers 55 with a biasing force that is weaker than the biasing force of the transport driven rollers 54, and the recording paper P is discharged by the rotation of the paper discharge drive rollers 55. At this time, the recording paper P is rotated in contact with the recording paper P, following the discharge of the recording paper P. Then, the recording paper P is discharged to the paper discharge tray 58.
[0026]
The platen 52 is formed with a plurality of ribs 521 that guide the recording paper P in the sub-scanning direction Y while restricting the distance between the head surface 62a of the recording head 62 and the recording surface of the recording paper P. The platen 52 includes an ink receiving portion 522 that discards the ink 10 when recording is performed near the end of the recording paper P when performing borderless printing on the recording paper P, and an area near the starting end of the recording paper P. An ink receiving portion 523 that discards the ink 10 when recording is performed is formed. The ink 10 discarded in the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 is guided by the ink guide groove 524, guided to the ink discharge path 525, and flows into the ink storage portion 528. Then, the ink is absorbed by the ink absorbing material 529 disposed in the ink storage unit 528.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the platen 52 of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 according to the present invention.
The platen 52 has a long width in the main scanning direction X, and a plurality of ribs 521 are formed in the main scanning direction X at substantially equal intervals. The plurality of ribs 521 are substantially in the main scanning direction X at intervals corresponding to the wavy deformation of the recording paper P in the so-called cockling phenomenon, in which the ink 10 penetrates into the recording surface of the recording paper P and the recording paper P is deformed. They are arranged at equal intervals. Then, a change in the gap between the head surface 62a of the recording head 62 and the recording surface of the recording paper P due to the recording paper P floating from the platen 52 due to the cockling phenomenon is minimized.
[0028]
Since the rib 521 has a shape protruding from the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523, the rib 521 that should be ideally formed on the platen 52 without interruption in the sub-scanning direction Y is The portions that are interrupted by the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 are reduced, and the reduction in the effect of the ribs 521 due to the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 being formed on the platen 52 can be reduced.
[0029]
The ink receiving part 522 and the ink receiving part 523 have a long groove shape that is long in the main scanning direction X as shown in the figure. When performing borderless printing on the recording paper P, out of the ink 10 ejected from the recording head 62 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction X, the ink 10 that protrudes from the beginning and end of the recording paper P is The ink receiver 522 and the ink receiver 523 are discarded. Further, the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 are connected at connecting portions R formed at a predetermined plurality of locations. Since the ink 10 that protrudes from both ends of the recording paper P is discarded in the connecting portion R, the connecting portion R is formed in accordance with the recording paper width for each size of the recording paper P such as A4 and B5. .
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the platen 52 of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 according to the present invention, and shows an enlarged portion of the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523.
[0031]
The ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 are connected by a connecting portion R. Further, a part of the rib 521a is formed in the ink receiving part 522, and a part of the rib 521b is formed in the ink receiving part 523 so as to protrude. In the range shown in the figure, the ink receiving portion 522 has four corner portions 522a to 522d, and the ink receiving portion 523 has four corner portions 523a to 523d. Is formed. In the corner portions 522a to 522d and the corner portions 523a to 523d, the ink 10 discarded by the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 rises in the corner portion by the capillary action described above, and the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion. In order to prevent it from flowing out of 523, each has a gently curved shape as shown in the figure.
[0032]
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing the ink receiving portion 523 of the platen 52 according to the present invention.
Thus, since the corner portion 523a has a gently curved shape, the corner portion 523a having an acute shape like the conventional platen 52 shown in FIG. Can be prevented from flowing out of the ink receiving portion 523 without rising due to the capillary phenomenon described above.
[0033]
In this way, the ink 10 discarded in the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 can be prevented from rising at the respective corner portions of the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 due to capillary action. It is possible to reduce the possibility that the recording paper P will be soiled by adhering to the ribs 521 and the like of the platen 52.
[0034]
As another embodiment, in addition to the ink jet recording apparatus 50 shown in the above embodiment, an ink absorbing material 529 is provided in the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 of the platen 52. Can be mentioned. Since the ink 10 discarded in the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523 is absorbed by the ink absorbing material 529 disposed in the ink receiving portion 522 and the ink receiving portion 523, the ink receiving portion The possibility that the ink 10 discarded in the part 522 and the ink receiving part 523 adheres to the recording paper P can be further reduced.
[0035]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent ink discarded in the ink receiving portion during borderless printing from flowing out of the ink receiving portion, and to reduce the possibility that the ink discarded in the ink receiving portion adheres to the recording paper. Can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an essential part showing an embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a platen of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a platen of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, and shows an enlarged part of an ink receiving portion.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view schematically showing an ink receiving portion of the platen according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which ink discarded in the ink receiving portion of the platen according to the prior art rises against gravity due to a capillary phenomenon along a corner portion of the inner wall of the ink receiving portion.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which ink abandoned in an ink receiving portion of a platen in the prior art has risen against gravity due to a capillary phenomenon along a corner portion of an inner wall of the ink receiving portion.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 10a Ink 50 Inkjet recording device 51 Carriage guide shaft 52 Platen 53 Conveying drive roller 54 Conveying driven roller 55 Discharging driving roller 56 Discharging driven roller 57 Paper feeding tray 58 Discharging tray 59 Housing 61 Carriage 62 Recording head 521 Rib 522, 523 Ink receiving portion R Connection portion X Main scanning direction Y Sub scanning direction

Claims (4)

A carriage for reciprocating a recording head for ejecting ink to the recording paper in the main scanning direction, a recording paper conveying means for conveying the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction, and the recording paper conveyed by the recording paper conveying means When the ink is ejected with no margin to the end of the recording paper, the distance between the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording paper is regulated. A platen of an ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: a platen having an ink receiving portion for discarding the ink that has protruded;
The shape of the corner portion of the inner wall of the ink receiving portion has a curved shape so as to prevent the ink from rising at the corner portion by capillary action,
An ink discharge path communicating with the ink storage section for storing the ink discarded in the ink receiving section, and an ink guide groove for guiding the ink stored in the ink reception section to the ink discharge path. A platen formed on the bottom of the ink receiving portion.   2. The platen according to claim 1, wherein the platen is formed with a plurality of ribs for guiding the recording paper in the sub-scanning direction while regulating a distance between a head surface of the recording head and a recording surface of the recording paper. Is formed in a shape protruding to the ink receiving portion, and a boundary portion between the rib protruding to the ink receiving portion and the inner wall of the ink receiving portion is formed by a capillary phenomenon. A platen having a curved surface shape so as to prevent the ink from rising.   3. The platen according to claim 1, wherein an ink absorbing material is disposed in the ink receiving portion.   An ink jet recording apparatus comprising the platen according to claim 1.

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