JP4155130B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus that heats a recording medium with a belt member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet type image recording apparatus is known as an image recording apparatus capable of flexibly responding to the demand for a small quantity and a wide variety of products, and this image recording apparatus is a high-definition for a wide variety of recording media. Image recording can be performed.
[0003]
In particular, an image recording apparatus capable of obtaining a glossy recorded image by applying a predetermined recording surface improvement process to a recording medium after image recording has been developed. As this recording surface improvement process, for example, thermoplasticity In some cases, the glossiness is improved by heating and pressurizing a recording medium containing resin particles to temporarily melt and smooth the thermoplastic resin particles.
[0004]
A method of heating a recording medium by using a belt body having a width dimension larger than the width dimension of the recording medium, and bringing the heated belt body and the recording surface into close contact as a method of heating the recording medium in the recording surface improvement processing It has been known. The use of the belt body means that a sufficient amount of heat can be applied to the recording medium over a certain period of time to melt the thermoplastic resin particles contained in the recording medium. Since the body is naturally cooled, it is possible to prevent the recording surface of the recording medium from being damaged when the recording medium is peeled off from the belt body, and an effect superior to other methods can be obtained.
[0005]
However, due to variations in the shape of the roller or the like holding the belt body, the difference in the circumferential length of the belt body, and the like, the belt body is always displaced. Further, the greater the pressure applied to the belt body, the greater the shifting force generated in the belt body. When the end of the belt body collides with another member due to this large shift force, the belt body is damaged, so that consideration must be given to correcting the shift of the belt body. Therefore, a contact-type sensor that detects the deviation of the belt body by contacting the end of the belt body is provided, and when the deviation of the belt body is detected, it is arranged inside the endless belt body with a correction cam. There is known an image recording apparatus that changes the inclination of the applied roller and corrects the deviation of the belt body (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). There have also been proposed image recording apparatuses that use a plurality of sensors that are in contact with the belt body to detect the deviation of the belt body (for example, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-201578 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-5-297953 [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-8-305111 [Patent Document 4]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-305174
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the inventions described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a belt body end detection sensor, an abnormality detection sensor, and a lever are used to detect a shift. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of parts is large and the cost is high. Also, the belt body deviation detection method is configured to detect when the sensor and the belt body come into contact with each other. For this reason, there is a problem that the belt body is damaged by the sensor. The inventions described in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 also have the same problems as described above because the contact-type deviation detection sensor is used.
[0008]
Even when a deviation detection sensor that is a transmissive photo interrupter is used, if the position of the deviation detection sensor is fixed, the belt body and the deviation detection sensor are Has the problem of touching. Further, even when a deviation detection sensor that is a reflection type photosensor is used, when the position of the deviation detection sensor is fixed, the belt body that is a reflection object is changed when the roller inclination is changed. There is a problem in that the relative position of the belt body is displaced and the belt belt cannot be accurately detected.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an object thereof is to provide an image recording apparatus in which a belt body and a sensor do not contact each other.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a heating roller and a driven roller, which are driving rollers, and a recording medium having a recording surface on which an image is recorded. And a sensor that is non-contacting with the belt body that detects a shift in the width direction of the belt body is installed near both ends in the width direction of the belt body, When the shift in the width direction of the belt body is detected by the sensor, the belt body is moved in the width direction by moving one end of the rotating shaft of the driven roller by the shaft moving device, and the shift is corrected. In the image recording apparatus configured as described above, the sensor on one end side is connected to one end of the rotating shaft via a connecting plate, and the sensor is moved along with the movement of one end of the rotating shaft. It is characterized by being configured to move one end integrally with its axis of rotation.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, the heating roller and the driven roller are provided at a predetermined distance in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the shaft moving device is The rotating shaft is configured to move one end in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium.
[0012]
Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 is the image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating roller and the driven roller are provided at a predetermined distance in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the shaft moving device is The rotating shaft is configured to move one end in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the slack of the belt body between the heating roller and the driven roller is eliminated. A tension roller is provided.
[0014]
In the inventions according to the first to fourth aspects, when one end of the rotating shaft is moved in order to correct the deviation, the end of the belt body also moves following the one end. Since the sensor moves in the same manner, the relative position between the end of the belt body and the sensor can always be maintained substantially the same. Therefore, contact between the belt body end and the sensor is avoided. In the invention according to claim 4, by providing the tension roller, the slack of the belt body is removed, and the height of the wave that the belt body undulates can be reduced.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a paper feed roll 2 around which a recording medium P is wound is rotatably disposed at one lower end of the image recording apparatus 1. The paper feed roll 2 is driven to rotate by a driving device (not shown), and the recording medium P is sent out in a predetermined transport direction X as the paper feed roll 2 rotates.
[0016]
A pair of first transport rollers 3 a and 3 b that sandwich the recording medium P from the recording surface side and the non-recording surface side are provided above the paper feed roll 2. The recording medium P sent out from the paper supply roll is transported along a predetermined transport direction X while being supported by the first transport rollers 3a and 3b.
[0017]
A recording unit 4 is located in the downstream of the first conveying rollers 3a and 3b in the conveying direction X and substantially at the center of the upper surface of the image recording apparatus 1, and a platen 5 that supports the recording medium P from the non-recording surface is used for image recording. It is arranged substantially horizontally along the upper surface of the device 1.
[0018]
Further, above the platen 5, recording heads 6, 6... Mounted on a carriage (not shown) are provided, and rod-shaped guides provided to extend in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction X of the recording medium P. It reciprocates along a rail (not shown).
[0019]
The recording heads 6, 6,... Are provided for each color (for example, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y)) used in the present embodiment. The required ink is ejected onto the recording surface.
[0020]
On the downstream side of the platen 5 in the transport direction X, cutters 7a and 7b having dimensions approximately equal to the width of the recording medium P are provided so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction X. . The cutters 7a and 7b are provided on both the recording surface side and the non-recording surface side of the recording medium P so as to face each other, and cut the recording medium P on which an image is recorded into a predetermined size. It has become. Among them, the cutter 7a provided on the recording surface side of the recording medium P can be moved up and down by a driving device (not shown), and after the recording medium P that has finished image recording passes between the cutters 7a and 7b, the recording is performed. When the cutter 7a provided on the recording surface side of the medium P is lowered, the recording medium P can be cut into a predetermined size.
[0021]
A pair of second transport rollers 8a that transport the cut recording medium P along the transport direction X while sandwiching the cut recording medium P from the recording surface side and the non-recording surface side downstream of the cutters 7a and 7b. 8b is provided. Further, a switching unit 9 for switching the direction of conveyance of the recording medium P is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction X with respect to the second conveyance rollers 8a and 8b.
[0022]
A conveyance path from the paper feed roller 2 to the switching unit 9 is a first conveyance path 26, and the first conveyance path 26 is substantially directed downward from the image recording apparatus 1 with the second conveyance rollers 8 a and 8 b as fulcrums. It is bent at a right angle. The switching unit 9 is located at the lower end of the first transport path 26, and includes a pair of switching rollers 11a and 11b that are rotationally driven by a driving device (not shown). The rotation direction of the switching rollers 11a and 11b can be switched as appropriate, and once the recording medium P is sent out from the lower end of the first transport path 26, the transport direction of the recording medium P is switched to the reverse direction and again in the transport path. To be drawn into. Of the switching rollers 11a and 11b, the switching roller 11b located on the recording surface side of the recording medium P has a surface covered with an adhesive material, and removes paper dust, dust, and the like adhering to the surface of the recording medium P. It is like that. Further, a cleaning roller 12 having a size approximately equal to that of the switching roller 11b is provided on the side surface of the switching roller 11b so as to contact the peripheral surface of the switching roller 11b. The cleaning roller 12 is made of a material having higher adhesiveness than the switching roller 11b, and adsorbs and removes paper dust and the like adhering to the switching roller 11b.
[0023]
The lower end portion of the first transport path 26 is branched to the second transport path 27, and the switching unit 9 is formed at this branch portion so that the transport path of the recording medium P is routed from the first transport path 26. A switching lever 10 for switching to the second transport path 27 is provided. The switching lever 10 is appropriately rotated by a driving device (not shown), and the conveyance path of the recording medium P can be switched by this rotating operation.
[0024]
A pair of third transport rollers 13a and 13b that sandwich the recording medium P from the recording surface side and the non-recording surface side on the second transport path 27 and downstream of the switching rollers 11a and 11b in the transport direction X. And the 4th conveyance rollers 15a and 15b are arrange | positioned. Among these, the surface of the third conveyance roller 13b and the fourth conveyance roller 15b located on the recording surface side of the recording medium P is covered with an adhesive material, and paper dust and dust adhering to the surface of the recording medium P Etc. are to be removed. On the side surfaces of the third transport roller 13b and the fourth transport roller 15b, cleaning rollers 14 and 16 having dimensions substantially equal to the third transport roller 13b and the fourth transport roller 15b are provided on the side surfaces of the third transport roller 13b and the fourth transport roller 15b. The four conveying rollers 15b are provided so as to come into contact with the peripheral surface. The cleaning rollers 14 and 16 are made of a material having higher adhesiveness than the third transport roller 13b and the fourth transport roller 15b, and adsorb paper dust and the like adhering to the third transport roller 13b and the fourth transport roller 15b. It is supposed to be removed.
[0025]
A fixing unit 30 (one of image quality improvement processes) for heating and pressing the recording medium P is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction X with respect to the fourth transport rollers 15a and 15b.
The fixing unit 30 includes a heating unit 31 and a pressure unit 32. The heating unit 31 is provided on the recording surface side of the recording medium P, and the pressing unit 32 is provided on the non-recording surface side of the recording medium P so as to face each other.
Here, the pressure unit 32 includes a pressure roller 39. The pressure roller 39 presses the non-recording surface of the recording medium P toward the heating unit 31 by a pressure spring (not shown).
On the other hand, the heating unit 31 includes a driving roller (heating roller) 34, a driven roller 35, and a belt body 33 as shown in FIG. An endless belt body 33 is wound between the driving roller 34 and the driven roller 35. The belt body 33 has a width dimension larger than the width dimension of the recording medium P.
The driving roller 34 is rotated by a driving device (not shown). The drive roller 34 includes a heater 34 a for heating the recording surface side of the recording medium P via the belt body 33.
[0026]
One end 35a of the rotating shaft of the driven roller 35 is supported by a bearing 37, and the other end of the rotating shaft is supported by a bearing (not shown). Of these, the bearing 37 and thus the one end 35a of the rotating shaft are movable in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium P (hereinafter simply referred to as the Z1 direction). And the bearing 37 and the one end 35a of the rotating shaft are moved in the Z1 direction by the shaft moving device 50 provided in the heating unit 31. On the other hand, a bearing at the other end of the rotating shaft, and thus the other end of the rotating shaft, includes a fixed connecting plate 36.
[0027]
The shaft moving device 50 includes a motor 51 and a connecting plate 38. The connecting plate 38 connects one end 35a of the rotating shaft and a later-described shift detection sensor 54. The motor 51 and the connecting plate 38 are connected by a pinion rack device 53. The connecting plate 38 is moved in the Z1 direction via the pinion rack device 53 by the operation of the motor 51, thereby moving the bearing 37 and the one end 35a of the rotating shaft in the same direction. Further, the connection plate 38 and the fixed connection plate 36 are provided with shift detection sensors 54 and 54, respectively.
[0028]
Each shift detection sensor 54 is a transmissive photo interrupter. The distance between the deviation detection sensors 54 and 54 is set slightly larger than the width dimension of the belt body 33. One shift detection sensor 54 moves in the same direction by the same distance when one end 35a of the rotating shaft moves in the Z1 direction. The distance between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the deviation detecting sensor 54 provided on the connecting plate 38 is the case where the deviation of the belt body 33 occurs at each position when the one end 35a of the rotating shaft moves in the Z1 direction. However, it is set to such an extent that neither the light emitting unit nor the light receiving unit is in contact with the belt body 33. Further, the shift detection sensor 54 provided on the connecting plate 38 is preferably installed in the vicinity of the one end 35a of the rotating shaft.
[0029]
A discharge port 25 for discharging the recording medium P is provided downstream of the fixing unit 30 in the transport direction X and at the end of the second transport path 27, and upstream of the transport direction X from the discharge port 25. Are provided with a pair of fourth transport rollers 24 a and 24 b for guiding the recording medium P to the discharge port 25.
[0030]
The image recording apparatus 1 includes a control unit that controls the axis movement device 50. Each control sensor 54 is connected to this control unit. The control unit is configured to move the one end 35a of the rotation shaft in the Z1 direction based on the deviation information of the belt body 33 by the deviation detection sensors 54.
[0031]
Further, the recording medium P used in the present embodiment has an ink receiving layer containing thermoplastic resin particles formed on the recording surface side, and a pigment ink solvent absorption layer is formed below the ink receiving layer. ing. The thermoplastic resin particles include, for example, polyacrylic ester, polycarbonate, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, polybutadiene, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyester, polyamide, polyether, and the like. Among them, polyacrylic ester copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride-acrylic acid ester copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer Polymers, ethylene-acrylic acid ester copolymers, and SBR latex are preferred. The recording medium P containing these thermoplastic resin particles is heated and pressed to melt and smooth the thermoplastic resin particles contained in the ink receiving layer, thereby forming a photo-quality image having a vitreous gloss. Make it possible.
[0032]
Next, the operation of the fixing unit 30 in the present embodiment will be described.
In the fixing unit 30, when each deviation detection sensor 54 detects the deviation of the belt body 33, the control unit controls the motor 51 of the shaft moving device 50 to operate the motor 51. The motor 51 moves the one end 35a of the rotary shaft through the pinion rack device 53 in a direction to correct the deviation of the belt body 33 in the Z1 direction.
[0033]
In this case, if one end 35a of the rotating shaft is moved to correct the deviation, the end portion of the belt body 33 also moves following the one end 35a, but the photosensor also moves in the same manner as the one end. The relative position between the end of the belt 33 and the photosensor is maintained substantially the same. Further, the shift detection is performed in a non-contact manner by shift detection sensors 54 and 54 which are transmission type photo interrupters.
[0034]
According to the present embodiment, the relative position between the end of the belt body 33 and the photosensor is maintained substantially the same, so that contact with the belt body 33 can be avoided and the end of the belt body 33 is damaged. Can be prevented.
Further, since the shift detection is performed in a non-contact manner, it is possible to avoid contact with the belt body 33 and to prevent the end of the belt body 33 from being damaged.
Furthermore, since the photo sensor is used, the configuration for detecting the deviation can be simplified.
[0035]
In the present embodiment, a transmissive photo interrupter is used as the shift detection sensor 54, but a reflection photo sensor can be used as the shift detection sensor 54. Even in this case, it is arranged at the same position as the shift detection sensors 54 and 54 which are transmissive photo interrupters. Then, the belt body 33 can be a reflecting object, and when the belt body 33 is deviated, the light reflected by the belt body 33 is received to detect the deviation of the belt body.
[0036]
In the present embodiment, a transmissive photo interrupter that is an optical sensor is used as the shift detection sensor 54, but a proximity sensor can be used as the shift detection sensor 54. Even in this case, it is arranged at the same position as the shift detection sensors 54 and 54 which are transmissive photo interrupters. The difference from the transmissive photo interrupter is that the proximity sensor is provided at a position facing the side surface of the belt body 33. When the belt 33 includes a magnetic material, a high frequency oscillation type or a reed switch type can be used as the proximity sensor. When the belt body 33 does not include a magnetic body, a capacitance type can be used as the proximity sensor.
[0037]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since this embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the structure of the fixing unit, only the fixing unit will be described below.
[0038]
In the present embodiment, the fixing unit 100 includes a heating unit 110 and a pressure unit 120. Here, the pressurizing unit 120 has the same configuration as the pressurizing unit 32 of the first embodiment. On the other hand, the heating unit 110 includes a heating roller 111, a driven roller 112, and a belt body 113. The heating roller 111, the driven roller 112, and the belt body 113 are the heating roller 34, the driven roller 35, and the belt body according to the first embodiment. The configuration is almost the same as that of 33.
[0039]
This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a tension roller 114 is first provided inside the belt body 113, and secondly, the shift detection sensors 115 and 115 are provided on the conveyance surface of the recording medium. It is provided on the side.
[0040]
According to the present embodiment, the effect similar to the effect of the first embodiment can be obtained, and since the tension roller is provided, the slack of the belt body 113 is removed and the belt body 113 is waved. Can be reduced in height. Therefore, there is an effect that the distance between the light emitting part and the light receiving part of each shift detection sensor 115 can be shortened to some extent.
[0041]
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since this embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the structure of the fixing unit, only the fixing unit will be described below.
In the present embodiment, the fixing unit 200 includes a heating unit 210 and a pressure unit 220. Here, the pressure unit 220 has the same configuration as the pressure unit 32 of the first embodiment. On the other hand, the heating unit 210 includes a heating roller 211, a driven roller 212, and a belt body 213. The heating roller 211, the driven roller 212, and the belt body 213 are the heating roller 34, the driven roller 35, and the belt body of the first embodiment. The configuration is almost the same as that of 33.
[0042]
This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that first, the heating roller 211 and the driven roller 212 are provided at a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium P, and second. That is, the bearing of the driven roller 212 and thus one end of the rotation shaft can move in the conveyance direction of the recording medium P (hereinafter simply referred to as the Z2 direction).
According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, when one end of the rotating shaft is moved to correct the deviation, the end of the belt body also moves following the one end. Since the sensor also moves in the same way, the relative position between the belt body end and the photosensor can always be maintained substantially the same, and contact between the belt body end and the photosensor is avoided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the belt body end from being damaged. Further, since the shift detection is performed in a non-contact manner, it is possible to avoid contact with the belt body 33 and to prevent the end of the belt body from being damaged. In addition, the same effect as described above can be obtained even if the proximity sensor is provided for the shift detection.
[0044]
According to the invention described in claim 4, by providing the tension roller, the slack of the belt body is removed, and the height of the wave that the belt body undulates can be reduced. Therefore, when a transmissive photo interrupter is used as the shift detection sensor, there is an effect that the distance between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit can be shortened to some extent.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the inside of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fixing unit of the image recording apparatus in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a fixing unit of the image recording apparatus in the second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a fixing unit of an image recording apparatus in a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording apparatus 30 Fixing unit 31 Heating unit 32 Pressure unit 33 Belt body 34 Driving roller (heating roller)
35 Followed Roller 35a One End 37 of the Rotating Shaft 37 Bearing 38 Connecting Plate 39 Pressure Roller 50 Axis Moving Device 54 Shift Detection Sensor

Claims (4)

A belt body is wound around a heating roller and a driven roller, which are driving rollers, and a recording surface of a recording medium on which an image is recorded is configured to be heated by the heating roller via the belt body, and A sensor that is not in contact with the belt body for detecting a deviation in the width direction of the belt body is installed near both ends in the width direction of the belt body, and a shaft when the sensor detects a deviation in the width direction of the belt body In the image recording apparatus configured to move the belt body in the width direction by moving one end of the rotation shaft of the driven roller by a moving device, and to correct the deviation thereof,
The sensor on one end side is connected to one end of the rotating shaft via a connecting plate so that the sensor moves integrally with one end of the rotating shaft as the end of the rotating shaft moves. An image recording apparatus characterized by being configured. The heating roller and the driven roller are provided at a predetermined distance in the recording medium conveyance direction, and the shaft moving device moves one end of the rotating shaft in a direction orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is configured. The heating roller and the driven roller are provided at a predetermined distance in a direction orthogonal to the recording medium conveyance direction, and the shaft moving device moves one end of the rotating shaft in the recording medium conveyance direction. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is configured. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tension roller that eliminates the slack of the belt body between the heating roller and the driven roller.

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