JP4279473B2 - Image recording apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

【００９０】
なお、透明被膜を形成するか否かを記録材料情報に基づいて判定することに代えて、例えば透明被膜を形成するか否かをオペレータに問い合わせ、オペレータによる選択結果に基づいて前記判定を行うようにしてもよい。
【００９１】
ところで、記録材料７０に画像が記録される（記録ヘッド６０から吐出されたインク液滴が付着される）と、記録材料７０の画像記録面はインク液滴に含まれる溶媒によって濡れた状態となるが、ステップ２０６の判定が否定された場合には記録材料７０への透明被膜の形成を行わないので、記録材料７０の画像記録面に異物が接触する迄の間（本実施形態では、記録ヘッド６０によって画像が記録された記録材料７０が搬送ローラ７４Ｄに接触する迄の間）に、少なくとも記録材料７０の表層に付着している溶媒が除去された状態となっていれば、画像記録面に異物が接触しても記録画像の乱れ等の画質低下が生じることはない。そして、記録材料７０の表層に付着している溶媒が除去される迄の時間は、記録材料へのインク液滴の染込速度によって左右される。
【００９２】
このため、ステップ２０６の判定が否定された場合にはステップ２０８へ移行し、ステップ２００で取り込んだ記録材料７０の種類をキーにして記録材料情報を参照することにより、記録材料７０のインク液滴染込速度Ｖｘを認識する。そしてステップ２１０では、ステップ２０６で認識したインク液滴染込速度に基づき、画像が記録された記録材料７０が加熱乾燥部６４を通過して搬送ローラ７４Ｄに接触する迄の間に、少なくとも記録材料７０の表層に付着している溶媒が除去されるように、ステップ２０２で取り込んだ筐体２０Ａ内の温度及び湿度も考慮して、加熱乾燥部６４が記録材料７０に供給する熱風温度Ｔを設定し、ステップ２３０へ移行する。
【００９３】
具体的には、本実施形態では記録材料７０が搬送ローラ７４Ｂ〜７４Ｆによって略一定の搬送速度で搬送されるので、記録ヘッド６０の配設位置と搬送ローラ７４Ｄの配設位置との間に位置している記録材料の搬送路を、記録ヘッド６０によって記録材料７０に記録されてから加熱乾燥部６４によって加熱乾燥が開始される迄の区間（第１の区間）、加熱乾燥部６４により記録材料７０に熱風が吹き付けられている区間（第２の区間）、及び加熱乾燥部６４による加熱乾燥が終了してから記録材料７０が搬送ローラ７４Ｄに接触する迄の区間（第３の区間）を区切ったときに、記録材料７０が各区間を通過するのに要する時間も略一定である。
【００９４】
そして、記録材料７０の表層に付着している溶媒は、第１の区間及び第３の区間においては、筐体２０Ａ内の温度Ｔ_ROOM及び湿度Ｈ_ROOMに応じた揮発速度Ｖ₁で揮発し（Ｖ₁＝ｆ(Ｔ_ROOM，Ｈ_ROOM))、第２の区間においては、加熱乾燥部６４によって供給される熱風の温度Ｔ及び湿度Ｈに応じた揮発速度Ｖ₂で揮発する（Ｖ₂＝ｆ(Ｔ，Ｈ))と共に、第１〜第３の区間を通じて染込速度Ｖｘで記録材料７０の受像層内部に染込むことで徐々に減少する。
【００９５】
従って、記録材料７０が搬送ローラ７４Ｄに接触する迄の間に、記録材料７０の表層から溶媒が除去された状態にすることは、加熱乾燥部６４が供給する熱風の温度Ｔを、次の（１）式を満足するように制御することで実現できる（但し、ｔ₁，ｔ₂，ｔ₃は記録材料７０が第１の区間、第２の区間、第３の区間を通過するのに要する時間）。
【００９６】
Ｓ_MAX＝Ｖ₁(ｔ₁＋ｔ₃)＋Ｖ₂ｔ₂＋Ｖｘ(ｔ₁＋ｔ₂＋ｔ₃) …（１）
詳しくは（１）式に基づいて第２の区間における揮発速度Ｖ₂を求め、熱風の湿度Ｈとして所定値を設定し（筐体２０Ａ内の湿度Ｈ_ROOMを用いてもよい）、揮発速度Ｖ₂と熱風の温度Ｔ及び湿度Ｈとの関係（Ｖ₂＝ｆ(Ｔ，Ｈ))から温度Ｔを求めればよい。上記のように、記録材料７０が搬送ローラ７４Ｄに接触する迄の間に、記録材料７０の表層から溶媒が除去された状態になるように温度Ｔを設定することにより、記録材料７０に加える熱エネルギー量を必要最小限に抑制することができるので、省エネルギーを実現することができる。
【００９７】
上述した熱風温度Ｔの設定は、請求項１に記載の制御手段における透明被膜が形成されない場合の制御、及び請求項２に記載の制御手段の制御に対応している。また（１）式のように、第１の区間及び第３の区間の温度及び湿度も考慮して熱風温度Ｔを設定することは、請求項７に記載の制御手段による制御に対応している。
【００９８】
なお、記録材料７０への溶媒の付着量よりも、記録材料７０のインク液滴染込速度Ｖｘの方が、記録材料７０の表層からの溶媒の除去時間に与える影響が大きいので、特に各画像の個々の領域を単位とする溶媒の付着量に大きなばらつきがないと推定される等の場合には、前記個々の領域を単位とする溶媒の付着量を考慮することなく（例えば溶媒付着量の最大値Ｓ_MAXとして一定値を用いて）、熱風の温度Ｔを設定するようにしてもよい。
【００９９】
一方、記録材料に透明被膜を形成する場合には、ステップ２０６の判定が否定されてステップ２１２へ移行し、ステップ２００で取り込んだ記録材料７０の種類をキーにして記録材料情報を参照することにより、記録材料７０への被膜形成方法を判定する。なお、被膜形成方法についても、記録材料情報に基づいて判定することに代えて、例えば被膜形成方法をオペレータに問い合わせ、オペレータによる選択結果に基づいて前記判定を行ってもよい。そしてステップ２１４では、ステップ２１２で判定した被膜形成方法に応じて透明被膜形成部６５における記録材料７０の搬送経路を設定する。
【０１００】
次のステップ２１６では記録材料７０に対する被膜形成方法に応じて処理を分岐する。記録材料７０に対して第１の被膜形成方法を適用する場合には、ステップ２１６からステップ２１８へ移行し、二次加熱部１３６による加熱温度が記録材料７０に予め付着された被膜形成用材料を溶融させる温度となるように、二次加熱部１３６のヒータを駆動する。これにより、第１の被膜形成方法によって透明被膜が形成される記録材料７０は、加熱乾燥部６４から排出された後に第１の搬送路を搬送され、予め付着された被膜形成用材料が二次加熱部１３６での加熱によって溶融されることで透明被膜が形成されることになる。
【０１０１】
また、記録材料７０に対して第２の被膜形成方法を適用する場合には、ステップ２１６からステップ２２０へ移行し、透明被膜形成部６５の塗布ヘッド１３０に対し、記録材料７０に被膜形成用材料を塗布するよう指示する。またステップ２２２では、二次加熱部１３６による加熱温度が、塗布ヘッド１３０によって記録材料７０に塗布される被膜形成用材料を溶融させる温度となるように、二次加熱部１３６のヒータを駆動する。これにより、第２の被膜形成方法によって透明被膜が形成される記録材料７０は、加熱乾燥部６４から排出された後に第２の搬送路を搬送されることで、塗布ヘッド１３０により被膜形成用材料がインクジェット方式で塗布され、その後、塗布された被膜形成用材料が二次加熱部１３６での加熱によって溶融されることで透明被膜が形成されることになる。
【０１０２】
また、記録材料７０に対して第３の被膜形成方法を適用する場合には、ステップ２１６からステップ２２４へ移行し、透明被膜形成部６５のラミネート部１３４に対し、記録材料７０に透明高分子シート１３２をラミネートするよう指示する。またステップ２２６では、二次加熱部１３６による加熱温度が、ラミネートした透明高分子シート１３２の平面性を向上させる温度となるように、二次加熱部１３６のヒータを駆動する。これにより、第３の被膜形成方法によって透明被膜が形成される記録材料７０は、加熱乾燥部６４から排出された後に第３の搬送路を搬送されることで、ラミネート部１３４により透明高分子シート１３２がラミネートされ、その後、ラミネートされた透明高分子シート１３２が二次加熱部１３６で加熱されることで平面性の高い透明被膜が形成されることになる。
【０１０３】
なお、透明高分子シート１３２をラミネートする場合、加熱することに代えて圧着するようにしてもよいし、加熱及び圧着を併用してもよい。また、透明高分子シート１３２の中には、加熱や圧着等の後処理を何ら行わなくても平面性の高い透明被膜が得られるものがあり、このような透明高分子シート１３２を用いる場合には後処理を省略することも可能である。
【０１０４】
ところで、記録材料７０への透明被膜の形成を行う場合には、記録材料７０に付着した溶媒が透明被膜の形成時に残存していると、残存していた溶媒が透明被膜の内部に閉じ込められ、閉じ込められた溶媒が記録画像の画質低下を引き起こす恐れがあるので、透明被膜の形成時には、記録材料７０に付着した溶媒の略全量が除去されている必要がある。そして、記録材料７０の付着した溶媒の略全量が除去されるのに要する時間は、記録材料７０への溶媒付着量によって左右される。
【０１０５】
このため、先のステップ２１８、又はステップ２２０，２２２、又はステップ２２４，２２６の処理を行うとステップ２２８へ移行し、ステップ２０４で演算した溶媒付着量の最大値に基づき、記録材料７０に透明被膜が形成される前に、記録材料７０に付着した溶媒の略全量が除去されるように、ステップ２０２で取り込んだ筐体２０Ａ内の温度及び湿度も考慮して、加熱乾燥部６４が記録材料７０に供給する熱風の温度Ｔを設定する。
【０１０６】
具体的には、記録材料７０に透明被膜を形成する場合には、記録材料７０の表層から受像層内部へ染込んだ溶媒も除去する必要があるので、先の（１）式から、受像層内部への溶媒の染込みに伴う記録材料７０の表層からの溶媒付着量の減少を考慮した項（：Ｖｘ(ｔ₁＋ｔ₂＋ｔ₃))を除外した次の（２）式に基づいて、第２の区間における揮発速度Ｖ₂を求め、熱風の湿度Ｈとして所定値を設定し、予め求めた揮発速度Ｖ₂と熱風の温度Ｔ及び湿度Ｈとの関係（Ｖ₂＝ｆ(Ｔ，Ｈ))から温度Ｔを求めればよい。この温度Ｔに基づいて加熱乾燥部６４のヒータへの通電を制御することにより、記録材料７０に透明被膜を形成する際に、記録材料７０に付着した溶媒の略全量が除去された状態とすることができる。
【０１０７】
Ｓ_MAX＝Ｖ₁(ｔ₁＋ｔ₃)＋Ｖ₂ｔ₂ …（２）
なお（２）式における時間ｔ₃としては（１）式と同一の値（記録材料７０が第３の区間を通過するのに要する時間）を用いてもよいが、これに代えて、加熱乾燥部６４による加熱乾燥が終了してから記録材料７０への透明被膜の形成が開始される迄の時間（本実施形態に係るインクジェットプリンタ２０では、この時間は個々の被膜形成方法毎に異なる）を用いてもよい。
【０１０８】
上述した熱風温度Ｔの設定は、請求項１に記載の制御手段における透明被膜が形成される場合の制御、及び請求項４に記載の制御手段による制御に対応している。また（２）式のように、第１の区間及び第３の区間の温度及び湿度も考慮して熱風温度Ｔを設定することも、請求項７に記載の制御手段による制御に対応している。
【０１０９】
ステップ２１０又は上記のステップ２２８で熱風の温度Ｔを設定すると、加熱乾燥部６４のヒータ８２への通電を開始すると共に、ヒータ８２への通電量（ヒータ８２へ流す電流の大きさでもよいし、ヒータ８２のオンオフのデューティ比でもよい）を設定温度Ｔに応じて制御する。そして、記録材料７０への画像記録が開始されると送風機７６を作動させ、加熱乾燥部６４内に送り込まれた記録材料７０に熱風を吹き付けることで記録材料７０に付着している溶媒を除去する。
【０１１０】
次のステップ２３０では記録材料７０への加熱を終了するか否か判定する。判定が否定された場合にはステップ２３２へ移行し、記録材料７０に吹き付けられる熱風の実際の温度Ｔ_RE及び湿度Ｈ_REを温度センサ１２０及び湿度センサ１２２によって検出する。そしてステップ２３４では、検出した温度Ｔ_RE及び湿度Ｈ_REに基づいて加熱乾燥部６４のヒータ８２に対する通電量を調節する。
【０１１１】
例えば湿度Ｈ_REが予め想定した湿度よりも所定値以上低い場合には、熱風を吹き付けることによる溶媒の揮発速度が（１）式又は（２）式から求めた揮発速度Ｖ₂よりも大きくなるので、設定温度Ｔが所定温度低くなるように設定温度Ｔを修正し、修正後の設定温度Ｔと検出温度Ｔ_REとの偏差に応じてヒータ８２に対する通電量を調節する。また、湿度Ｈ_REが予め想定した湿度よりも所定値以上高い場合は、溶媒の揮発速度が（１）式又は（２）式から求めた揮発速度Ｖ₂よりも小さくなるので、設定温度Ｔが所定温度高くなるように設定温度Ｔを修正し、修正後の設定温度Ｔと検出温度Ｔ_REとの偏差に応じてヒータ８２に対する通電量を調節する。なお、このステップ２３４は請求項６に記載の制御手段による制御にも対応している。
【０１１２】
ステップ２３４の処理を行うとステップ２３０に戻り、ステップ２３０の判定が肯定される迄ステップ２３０〜２３４を繰り返す。これにより、画像が記録された記録材料７０が搬送ローラ７４Ｄに接触する際、又は記録材料７０に透明被膜が形成される際に、記録材料７０に付着していた溶媒が所望の乾燥状態となるように、熱エネルギー量を精度良く制御することができる。そして、記録材料７０が加熱乾燥部６４から排出されると、ステップ２３０の判定が肯定されて処理を終了する。上記のように、画像記録に伴って溶媒が付着した記録材料７０に熱エネルギーを加えて、記録材料７０の表層に付着している溶媒、又は記録材料７０に付着した溶媒の略全量を除去することにより、インクジェットプリンタ２０の処理能力（単位時間当たりの画像記録数）の高能力化を達成することができる。
【０１１３】
なお、加熱乾燥部６４の構成は上記に限定されるものではなく、例えば特開平５−２８９２９７号公報に開示されているように、記録材料が通過する乾燥ラックを送風機の吹き出し口及び吸い込み口と各々連結することで熱風の循環路を形成し、エアフィルタによる循環空気の浄化、外気との混合を行いながら熱風を循環路内で循環させる構成を採用してもよいし、特開平６−３２４４６９号公報に開示されているように、熱風の流れる方向を横切る方向に複数個のヒータを配置し、個々のヒータへの通電を別個に制御することで温度分布の偏倚を補償する構成を採用してもよい。また、特開平８−７６３４６号公報や特開平８−７６３４４号公報に開示されているように、熱風の風圧によって記録材料を宙に浮いた状態で搬送することで、記録材料の画像記録面が異物と接触することを阻止しつつ熱エネルギーを加える構成を採用してもよい。
【０１１４】
また、上記では記録材料に熱風を吹き付けることで記録材料に熱エネルギーを加える例を説明したが、本発明はこれに限定されるものではなく、例えば赤外線ヒータ等の加熱手段を記録材料の搬送路の近傍に配置し、加熱手段からの輻射熱によって記録材料に熱エネルギーを加えるようにしてもよい。
【０１１５】
また、上記では記録材料７０に記録する全ての画像に対する熱風の設定温度Ｔを一定とし、記録材料７０上の各画像が記録された部分に略一定の熱エネルギーを加えていたが、特に記録材料７０に透明被膜を形成する場合、記録材料７０に付着した溶媒の略全量を除去するために必要な熱エネルギー量は、記録材料７０に付着した溶媒量によって大きく左右される。このため、単一又は複数コマの画像の溶媒付着量に基づき、記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量（例えば熱風の温度Ｔ）を単一コマ又は複数コマの画像を単位として設定・制御するようにしてもよい。
【０１１６】
記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量を単一又は複数コマ単位で制御することは、例えば記録材料に熱風を吹き付けることで熱エネルギーを加える態様においては、記録材料に対して熱エネルギーを加える区間を複数の領域に分割し、各領域毎に熱風発生機構（例えば送風機、ヒータ、発生した熱風を記録材料の画像記録面に案内する案内部材等から成る機構）を各々設けると共に、各領域で記録材料に吹き付ける熱風の温度を各々別個に制御する（例えば記録材料の搬送に伴って、記録材料の画像記録面のうち加える熱エネルギー量が異なる部分の境界が各領域を順に通過していくときには、各領域で記録材料に吹き付ける熱風の温度を前記境界の移動に応じて上流側の領域より順に切り替えていく等）ことで実現できる。また、例えば赤外線ヒータ等の加熱手段からの輻射によって熱エネルギーを加える態様においても、記録材料の搬送路に沿って加熱手段を多数個配列し、個々の加熱手段が記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量を上記と同様に別個に制御することによって実現できる。上記により、記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量を、単一又は複数コマを単位として最適化することができる。
【０１１７】
更に、上記では記録材料の表層に付着している溶媒を除去する場合に、記録材料へのインク液滴染込速度に基づいて、記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量（温風の温度Ｔ）を設定・制御していたが、これに限定されるものではない。所定波長の光（例えば赤外線）に対する記録材料の反射率は、記録材料の表層に付着している溶媒量が少なくなるに従って小さくなるので、例えば加熱乾燥部６４内の記録材料の搬送路の近傍の少なくとも１箇所（複数箇所が望ましい）に、赤外線を発する発光素子と、発光素子から射出され記録材料で反射された赤外線を光電変換する光電変換素子を備えた反射率センサ（請求項３に記載の反射率検出手段）を設け、この反射率センサによって記録材料の画像記録面の各部分における赤外線反射率を測定し、測定結果に基づいて加熱乾燥部６４が記録材料に熱エネルギーを加えることに伴う記録材料の画像記録面の各部分における赤外線反射率の低下速度を検知し、赤外線反射率の低下速度が０又は０に近い値となった部分については記録材料の表層から溶媒が除去されたと判断し、該部分に対する更なる熱エネルギーの印加が停止されるように制御してもよい。この制御は請求項３に記載の制御手段による制御に対応している。
【０１１８】
また、記録材料に熱エネルギーを加えた場合、記録材料の表層に溶媒が残存している状態では記録材料の表面温度は殆ど上昇せず、記録材料の表層から溶媒が除去されると明確に上昇し始めるので、例えば加熱乾燥部６４内の記録材料の搬送路の近傍の少なくとも１箇所（複数箇所が望ましい）に、記録材料の表面温度を検出する温度センサ（請求項３に記載の表面温度検出手段）を設け、この温度センサによって記録材料の画像記録面の各部分における表面温度を測定し、測定結果に基づいて記録材料の画像記録面の各部分における表面温度の変化を検知し、加熱乾燥部６４が記録材料に熱エネルギーを加えることに伴って表面温度が所定値以上の変化速度で変化している部分については記録材料の表層から溶媒が除去されたと判断し、該部分に対する更なる熱エネルギーの印加が停止されるように制御してもよい。この制御も請求項３に記載の制御手段による制御に対応している。
【０１１９】
更に、記録材料の画像記録面に異物が接触する迄の間に記録材料の表層に付着している溶媒を除去するにあたり、記録材料へのインク液滴染込速度、所定波長の光に対する記録材料の反射率、記録材料の表面温度のうちの２つ以上のパラメータを併用して記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量を制御するようにしてもよい。
【０１２０】
また、上記では記録材料に付着した溶媒の略全量を除去するにあたり、記録材料への溶媒の付着量のみに基づいて記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量を決定していたが、記録材料へのインク液滴染込速度が高くなるに従い、記録材料の受像層内部へ染込む溶媒量が増加するので、記録材料からの溶媒の除去に要するエネルギー量が増大することも考えられる。このため、例えばインク液滴染込速度が特に高い記録材料に付着した溶媒の略全量を除去する等の場合は、記録材料に加えるエネルギー量がより大きくなるように、記録材料へのインク液滴染込速度も考慮して記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量を決定するようにしてもよい。
【０１２１】
また、上記では記録材料７０に加える単位時間当たりの熱エネルギー量（記録材料７０に吹き付ける熱風の温度Ｔ）を調節することで、記録材料７０に加える熱エネルギー量（の総量）を調節していたが、単位時間当たりの熱エネルギー量を調節することに代えて、記録材料に熱エネルギーを加えている時間（記録材料に熱風を吹き付けている時間）を調節するようにしてもよい。記録材料に熱エネルギーを加えている時間は、熱エネルギーを加えている区間（本実施形態における第２の区間に相当）を記録材料が搬送される距離、又は前記区間での記録材料の搬送速度を変更することで調節することができる。また、記録材料に加える単位時間当たりの熱エネルギー量及び記録材料に熱エネルギーを加えている時間の双方を調節することで、記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量の総量を調節するようにしてもよい。
【０１２２】
更に、上記では筐体２０Ａ内の温度Ｔ_ROOM及び湿度Ｈ_ROOMに基づき、区間１及び区間３における溶媒の揮発量も考慮して、区間２で記録材料に加える熱エネルギー量を決定していたが、本発明はこれに限定されるものではなく、区間１及び区間３における溶媒の揮発量を考慮せずに、記録材料７０に熱風を吹き付けている区間２で、記録材料の表層に付着している溶媒が除去されるか、又は記録材料に付着した溶媒の略全量が除去されるように、前記熱エネルギー量を決定するようにしてもよい。
【０１２３】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように請求項１及び請求項１０記載の発明は、記録媒体に熱エネルギーを加えることで記録媒体に付着された溶媒の除去を行うにあたり、画像を記録した記録媒体に透明被膜を形成しない場合には、記録媒体の画像記録面に装置の他の部品が接触する前に少なくとも記録媒体の表層に付着している溶媒が除去されるように熱エネルギー量を制御し、透明被膜を形成する場合には、付着した溶媒の略全量が透明被膜の形成前に除去されるように熱エネルギー量を制御するので、インクジェット記録方式による画像記録において、記録媒体に選択的に透明被膜を形成する場合の省エネルギー化、記録画像の画質低下防止を実現できる、という優れた効果を有する。
【０１２５】
請求項２記載の発明は、請求項１記載の発明において、記録媒体の記録液滴染込速度を記録媒体の種類毎に記憶し、記録媒体の種類を検出し、少なくとも記録媒体の表層に付着している溶媒が除去されるように、記録媒体の記録液滴染込速度に応じて熱エネルギー量を制御するので、上記効果に加え、記録媒体に加える熱エネルギー量を適正に制御できる、という効果を有する。
【０１２６】
請求項３記載の発明は、請求項１記載の発明において、所定波長の光に対する記録媒体の反射率又は記録媒体の表面温度を検出し、反射率又は表面温度の変化に基づき、少なくとも記録媒体の表層に付着している溶媒が除去されるように熱エネルギー量を制御するので、上記効果に加え、記録媒体に加える熱エネルギー量を適正に制御できる、という効果を有する。
【０１２７】
請求項４記載の発明は、請求項１記載の発明において、記録液滴中の溶媒の濃度及び吐出量に基づいて記録媒体に付着された溶媒量を検知し、付着した溶媒の略全量が透明被膜の形成前に除去されるように熱エネルギー量を制御するので、上記効果に加え、記録媒体に加える熱エネルギー量を適正に制御できる、という効果を有する。
【０１２８】
請求項６記載の発明は、請求項５記載の発明において、加熱手段によって記録媒体に供給される空気の湿度を検出し、記録媒体に加えられる熱エネルギー量を検出した湿度に応じて調整するので、上記効果に加え、記録媒体に加える熱エネルギーをより精度良く制御できる、という効果を有する。
【０１２９】
請求項７記載の発明は、請求項１記載の発明において、記録液滴が付着された記録媒体が加熱手段によって熱エネルギーが加えられていない期間に通過する部分の温度及び湿度の少なくとも一方を検出し、記録媒体に加えられる熱エネルギー量を検出した温度及び湿度の少なくとも一方に応じて調整するので、上記効果に加え、省エネルギーを実現できる、という効果を有する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】 本実施形態に係る画像記録システムの概略構成を示すブロック図である。
【図２】 インクジェットプリンタの概略構成図である。
【図３】 インクジェットプリンタの記録ヘッド周辺の側面図である。
【図４】 記録ヘッドへのインクの供給機構を模式的に示す図である。
【図５】 本実施形態に係る加熱乾燥／被膜形成制御処理の内容を示すフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
２０ インクジェットプリンタ
５６ プリンタ制御部
５８ ドライバ
６０ 記録ヘッド
６１ 材料種センサ
６３ 機内環境検出部
６４ 加熱乾燥部
６５ 透明被膜形成部
７６ 送風機
８２ ヒータ
１２０ 温度センサ
１２２ 湿度センサ
１２４ 温度センサ
１２６ 湿度センサ
１３０ 塗布ヘッド
１３２ 透明高分子シート
１３４ ラミネート部
１３６ 二次加熱部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus and method, and more particularly, to an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by attaching recording droplets ejected from an ejection port of a recording head to the recording medium, and the image recording apparatus. The present invention relates to an applicable image recording method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The most common method for photographing a subject and recording it as a color image on a recording medium such as recording paper is a method using a silver halide color photosensitive material. That is, a photographic silver halide color photographic material such as a color negative film is loaded into a camera, and an image of the subject is exposed and recorded on the photographic material (latent image formation) by photographing the subject with the camera. The latent image formed on the photographic light-sensitive material is visualized as an image by subjecting the photographic light-sensitive material having undergone the process to development processing including color development, bleach-fixing, washing with water, and drying.
[0003]
Next, the image formed on the above-described photographic photosensitive material is irradiated with light, and the light transmitted or reflected through the image is directly applied to the silver halide color photographic photosensitive material for viewing such as color paper (printing paper). By irradiating or optically reading an image formed on the photographic photosensitive material for photographing, and irradiating the viewing photographic photosensitive material with light modulated according to the image information obtained by this reading, The image is exposed and recorded on the photographic photosensitive material for viewing (latent image formation), and the photographic photosensitive material for viewing and recording the image is subjected to development processing including color development, bleach-fixing, washing and drying. Thereby, the latent image formed on the photographic photosensitive material for viewing is visualized as an image, and a color image (photographic print) of the subject is obtained.
[0004]
However, in the development process, it is necessary to sequentially immerse the photographic photosensitive material in a plurality of types of processing solutions, and the types of processing solutions required for the development processing differ between the photographic photosensitive material for photography and the photographic photosensitive material for viewing. Yes. In addition, since the image recording method using a silver halide color photosensitive material forms a dye through a chemical reaction in the processing solution, the image quality of the output image is easily affected by the temperature and components of the processing solution. It is necessary to keep the temperature constant, and it is also necessary to replenish the replenisher appropriately according to the degree of deterioration of the treatment liquid. For this reason, the image recording method using a silver halide color light-sensitive material has a problem that the apparatus is large in size and complicated in configuration, and takes time and effort for maintenance. Although various improvements have been made, further downsizing and maintenance-free operation are desired.
[0005]
In the image recording method using a silver halide color photosensitive material, the exposure and development processing variations for the viewing photographic photosensitive material or the variations in characteristics of the viewing photographic photosensitive material itself directly affect the image quality of the output color image. There is also the problem of affecting. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-33732 discloses the characteristics of a recording material by correcting the exposure amount based on the data representing the relationship between the exposure amount to the recording material and the color density of the recording material, the density of the test chart image, and the like. Although techniques for absorbing fluctuations such as fluctuations and exposure have been proposed, further stabilization of image quality is required.
[0006]
On the other hand, as another image recording method widely used for applications such as recording data output from a computer as an image on a recording medium, ink droplets ejected from an ejection port of a recording head are attached to the recording medium. Thus, an ink jet recording method for recording an image on a recording medium is known. The ink jet recording method records an image by directly attaching a dye solution (ink) to a recording medium, and therefore has an advantage that a change in image density due to a change in environmental conditions such as temperature is small. Compared with the image recording method using the above, the maintainability is basically advantageous.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  On the other hand, in the inkjet recording method, since the dye solution is attached to the recording medium, image recording is performed until the solvent contained in the dye solution (recording droplet) attached to the recording medium evaporates at least from the surface layer of the recording medium. FaceOther parts of the equipment(For example, transport rollersetc)There is a drawback in that the recorded image is disturbed when it touches. In addition, in the ink jet recording method, a transparent film may be formed on the recording medium on which the image is recorded for the purpose of improving the weather resistance of the image recorded on the recording medium, but the attached solvent remains in the recording material. When the transparent film is formed in a state, the solvent confined in the transparent film may cause deterioration of the recorded image.
[0008]
In existing image recording systems that record images using silver halide color light-sensitive materials, high processing performance has been achieved through improvements over the years, and in order to obtain processing performance equivalent to that of the above image recording systems by inkjet recording. In this case, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for removing the solvent adhering to the recording medium in a short time as the image is recorded. However, when heat is applied to a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the ink jet recording method for the purpose of removing the solvent in a short period of time, the water adhering to the recording medium is washed away like drying in a silver halide color photosensitive material. Unlike the simple removal, there is a possibility that the image quality of the recorded image may be affected. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an appropriate heating method in the ink jet recording method.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and it is possible to obtain an image recording apparatus and an image recording method capable of achieving high performance of image recording by an ink jet recording method without causing deterioration in image quality of a recorded image. Is the purpose.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention discharges a recording droplet from an ejection port of a recording head in accordance with an image to be recorded on a recording medium, and the recording droplet is recorded on the recording medium. Recording means for recording an image on a recording medium by attaching to the recording medium;A film forming means capable of forming a transparent film on a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording means;A heating unit that removes the solvent contained in the recording droplet attached to the recording medium by applying thermal energy to the recording medium to which the recording droplet is attached by the recording unit, and a recording medium on which the image is recorded Whether a transparent film is formedWhen the transparent film is not formed by the film forming means, at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium is removed before the other parts of the apparatus come into contact with the image recording surface of the recording medium. InControlling the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium by the heating meansWhen the transparent film is formed by the film forming means, the amount of heat energy is controlled so that substantially all of the attached solvent is removed before the transparent film is formed.And a control means.
[0011]
  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image is recorded on the recording medium by ejecting a recording droplet from the ejection port of the recording head in accordance with an image to be recorded on the recording medium, and attaching the recording droplet to the recording medium. Recording means is provided, and the heating means removes the solvent contained in the recording droplets attached to the recording medium by applying thermal energy to the recording medium to which the recording droplets are attached by the recording means. As the heating means, for example, claims5As described above, a configuration in which heat energy is applied to the recording medium by supplying heated air to the recording medium can be employed.The invention described in claim 1 further includes a film forming means capable of forming a transparent film on a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording means.
[0012]
  By the way, when forming a transparent film (a film formed on the outermost layer in order to improve the weather resistance of the recorded image and maintain the image quality of the recorded image for a long period of time) on the recording medium on which the image is recorded, However, when the transparent film is not formed on the recording medium, at least the surface layer of the recording medium is adhered to the recording medium. If the solvent is removed, the recording medium on which the image is recordedOther parts of the equipmentIt is possible to prevent the recorded image from being disturbed when it touches. For this reason, the appropriate amount of thermal energy to be added to the recording material on which the image is recorded differs depending on whether or not a transparent film is formed on the recording medium.
[0013]
  Based on the above, when the transparent film is not formed by the film forming means based on the presence or absence of the transparent film formation on the recording medium on which the image is recorded, the control means according to the first aspect of the invention records the image on the recording medium. The amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium is controlled by the heating means so that at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium is removed before the other parts of the apparatus come into contact with the surface, and the film forming means is transparent. When a film is formed, the amount of heat energy is controlled so that substantially the entire amount of the attached solvent is removed before the formation of the transparent film.
[0014]
  As described above, when a transparent film is not formed, recording is performed so that at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium is removed before other parts of the apparatus come into contact with the image recording surface of the recording medium. By controlling the amount of heat energy applied to the medium, the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium is suppressed, and energy saving can be realized. In addition, when a transparent film is formed, since almost all of the attached solvent is removed before the formation of the transparent film, it can be avoided that a part of the attached solvent is confined in the transparent film, It is possible to prevent the image quality of the recorded image from being deteriorated by the solvent confined in the transparent film. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize energy saving and prevention of image quality deterioration of a recorded image when a transparent film is selectively formed on a recording medium in image recording by an ink jet recording method.
[0015]
  Also, when removing at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium from among the solvents adhering to the recording medium accompanying image recording, the same amount of thermal energy is applied to the recording medium having the same amount of solvent adhering thereto. However, the time until the solvent is removed from the surface layer of the recording medium differs depending on the recording liquid soaking speed, and the recording liquid soaking speed depends on the type of the recording medium. Yes. For this reason, the appropriate amount of thermal energy to be added to the recording medium in order to remove the solvent from the surface layer of the recording medium differs depending on the type of the recording medium.
[0016]
  As described above, controlling the amount of thermal energy based on the type of the recording medium is particularly effective when removing the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium. For example, as described in claim 2, a storage unit that stores the recording liquid droplet permeation speed of the recording medium for each type of the recording medium, and a medium that detects the type of the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording unit A seed detection unit is provided, and based on the type of the recording medium detected by the medium type detection unit, at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium is removed. This can be realized by controlling the amount of thermal energy in accordance with the recording droplet soaking speed. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately detect an appropriate amount of thermal energy to be applied to the recording medium in order to remove the solvent from the surface layer of the recording medium, and to appropriately control the amount of thermal energy applied to the recording medium.
[0017]
  In the invention described in claim 2, the recording droplet permeation speed may be stored for each of all types of recording media that may perform image recording by the image recording apparatus according to the present invention. The recording medium may be divided into a plurality of groups so that recording mediums having the same or similar recording liquid soaking speed belong to the same group, and the recording liquid soaking speed may be stored for each group as a unit. . The time until the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium is removed varies depending not only on the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium but also on the amount of solvent adhering to the recording medium. In the invention, the amount of heat energy may be controlled in consideration of the amount of solvent adhering to the recording medium. Thereby, the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium can be controlled with higher accuracy.
[0018]
  Further, since there is a correlation between the amount of the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium, the reflectance of the recording medium with respect to light of a predetermined wavelength (for example, wavelength in the infrared region), and the surface temperature of the recording medium, the surface layer of the recording medium Whether or not the solvent has been removed from the recording medium can also be determined from the reflectance of the recording medium with respect to light of a predetermined wavelength (for example, an infrared wavelength) and the surface temperature of the recording medium.
[0019]
  As described above, controlling the amount of heat energy based on the reflectance of the recording medium with respect to light of a predetermined wavelength (for example, the wavelength in the infrared region) or the surface temperature of the recording medium is also attached to the surface layer of the recording medium. The control is particularly effective in the case of removing the solvent. Specifically, the above-described control is, for example, a reflectance detection unit that detects the reflectance of the recording medium with respect to light of a predetermined wavelength, as described in claim 3. Surface temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature of the recording medium is provided, and at least the surface layer of the recording medium is based on the reflectance detected by the reflectance detecting means or the change in the surface temperature of the recording medium detected by the surface temperature detecting means This can be achieved by controlling the amount of heat energy so that the solvent adhering to the surface is removed.
[0020]
  As described above, since there is a correlation between the amount of the solvent adhering (remaining) on the surface layer of the recording medium, the reflectance of the recording medium with respect to light of a predetermined wavelength, and the surface temperature of the recording medium, the reflectance Whether or not the solvent has been removed from the surface layer of the recording medium can be accurately determined from the reflectance detected by the detecting means or the change in the surface temperature of the recording medium detected by the surface temperature detecting means. It is possible to appropriately control the amount of heat energy applied to the.
[0021]
  In addition, when removing almost the entire amount of solvent adhering to the recording medium during image recording, even if the same amount of thermal energy is applied to the same type of recording medium, substantially all of the adhering solvent is removed from the recording medium. The time required for the recording droplet varies depending on the amount of the solvent in the recording droplet attached to the recording medium, and the amount of the solvent in the recording droplet attached to the recording medium depends on the amount of the recording droplet on the recording medium. It changes according to the discharge amount. For this reason, the amount of heat energy to be applied to the recording medium in order to remove substantially the entire amount of the solvent adhering to the recording medium differs depending on the amount of solvent adhering to the recording medium and the ejection amount of recording droplets onto the recording medium.
[0024]
  as mentioned above,Controlling the amount of thermal energy based on the amount of solvent in the recording droplets attached to the recording medium is particularly effective when removing substantially the entire amount of the solvent attached to the recording medium, etc. Specifically, for example, claims4As described in the above, the amount of solvent adhering to the recording medium is detected based on the concentration of the solvent in the recording droplet and the ejection amount of the recording droplet onto the recording medium, and almost all of the adhering solvent is transparent film. This can be realized by controlling the amount of heat energy so that it is removed before the formation of the. As a result, it is possible to accurately detect an appropriate amount of thermal energy to be applied to the recording medium in order to remove substantially the entire amount of the solvent adhering to the recording medium, and to appropriately control the amount of thermal energy applied to the recording medium. it can.
[0025]
  In addition, as the heating unit, for example, a configuration in which heat energy is applied to the recording medium by supplying heated air to the recording medium can be adopted.5As described above, the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium is controlled by controlling at least one of the temperature of the air supplied to the recording medium by the heating means and the supply time of the heated air to the recording medium. Can do.
[0026]
  Further, in the configuration in which heated energy is supplied to the recording medium by supplying heated air to the recording medium, the speed at which the solvent attached to the recording medium is removed depends not only on the temperature of the heated air but also on the humidity of the heated air. Dependent. For this reason, the claims6The humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity of the air supplied to the recording medium by the heating means is provided, and the control means is an amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium according to the humidity detected by the humidity detecting means. Is preferably adjusted. Thereby, the heat energy applied to the recording medium can be controlled with higher accuracy.
[0027]
  In addition, after the image is recorded on the recording medium by the recording unit, the period from the start of the application of the thermal energy to the recording medium by the heating unit, and after the application of the thermal energy by the heating unit is completed, The image recording surface of the recording medium isOther parts of the equipmentOr even during the period until the transparent film is formed on the recording medium, the solvent adhering to the recording medium is volatilized.Other parts of the equipmentThe amount of the solvent that contacts the recording medium or adheres to the recording medium when the transparent film is formed on the recording medium also depends on the volatilization amount of the solvent in the period. And the volatilization amount of the solvent in the said period changes with the environmental conditions of the space in which the recording medium is put in the said period.
[0028]
  In view of the above, claims7As described in the above, the environmental condition detection means for detecting at least one of the temperature and the humidity of the portion where the recording medium to which the recording droplets are attached by the recording means passes during the period when the heat energy is not applied by the heating means. It is preferable to adjust the amount of thermal energy applied to the recording medium in accordance with at least one of temperature and humidity detected by the environmental state detection means. In this way, it is possible to suppress the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium by adjusting the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium in consideration of the volatilization of the solvent during the period when no heat energy is applied by the heating means. , Energy saving can be realized.
[0029]
  In addition, there are a plurality of types of film forming methods for forming a transparent film on a recording medium. For this reason, the claims8As described above, a film forming means capable of selectively applying a plurality of types of film forming methods to form a transparent film on a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording means is provided. It is preferable to control the film forming means so that the transparent film is formed by a film forming method selected from the above.
[0030]
  In addition, as a plurality of types of film forming methods, for example, claims9As described in 1), the first film formation that forms a transparent film by applying thermal energy to a recording medium to which a film forming material (for example, a thermoplastic resin latex or the like) is attached in advance to melt the film forming material. A second film forming method in which a transparent film is formed by attaching a film forming material to a recording medium to which no film forming material is attached and performing a predetermined post-treatment; and no film forming material is attached There is a third film forming method for forming a transparent film by sticking a film forming material formed into a sheet shape to a recording medium, and the film forming means includes, for example, the first to third film forming methods described above. A transparent film can be formed by two or more of these film forming methods.
[0031]
The second film forming method further includes a method of forming a transparent film by applying thermal energy to the adhered film forming material as the predetermined post-treatment and melting the film forming material, and film formation A method of forming a transparent film by applying a coating liquid containing a coating material to a recording medium to attach a film forming material, applying thermal energy as the predetermined post-treatment, and removing a solvent in the coating liquid And a method of forming a transparent film by applying a coating liquid containing a film-forming material to a recording medium to attach the film-forming material, and irradiating with ultraviolet rays or infrared rays as the predetermined post-treatment and solidifying the film. However, any of them may be adopted.
[0032]
The film forming method may be selected, for example, every time a recording medium is set in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the operator may select a film forming method (and whether or not a film is formed) Presence / absence of film formation and film formation method selected and set in advance for each type of recording medium capable of recording an image with a recording apparatus, and a corresponding film formation method based on the result of detecting the type of recording medium You may make it select automatically.
[0033]
  Claim10In the image recording method according to the invention described above, an image is recorded on a recording medium by ejecting a recording droplet from an ejection port of a recording head in accordance with an image to be recorded on the recording medium and attaching the recording droplet to the recording medium. An image recording method for recording, wherein an image is recorded when removing a solvent contained in a recording droplet attached to the recording medium by applying thermal energy to the recording medium to which the recording droplet is attached. Whether a transparent film is formed on the recording mediumIn the case where the transparent film is not formed, at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium is removed before other parts of the apparatus come into contact with the image recording surface of the recording medium.Controlling the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium by the heating meansWhen the transparent film is formed, the amount of heat energy is controlled so that substantially the entire amount of the attached solvent is removed before the transparent film is formed.As in the invention according to claim 1,In image recording by an ink jet recording method, energy saving when a transparent film is selectively formed on a recording medium and prevention of deterioration in image quality of the recorded image can be realized..
[0034]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image recording system 10 according to the present embodiment. The image recording system 10 includes a film scanner 12, a media driver 14, and an image data receiving device 16 as input devices for inputting image data, and an image processing device 18 for processing image data input from the input device. In addition, an inkjet printer 20 that records an image by an inkjet recording method is provided as an output device that outputs image data (or an image) that has been processed by the image processing device 18. The ink jet printer 20 is a printer to which the image recording method according to the present invention is applied, and corresponds to the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.
[0035]
The media driver 14 is, for example, a magnetic disk such as a floppy disk (FD), an optical disk such as a CD-R, a magneto-optical disk (MO), a smart media or a compact flash (hereinafter referred to as a digital flash camera) that can be loaded into a digital still camera (DSC). Any of various information storage media such as “digital camera card” is set, and image data stored in the set information storage media is read and output. The image data receiving device 16 is connected to a computer network such as the Internet, and receives and receives R, G, B image data from an information processing device (for example, a personal computer (PC)) via the computer network. Output the image data.
[0036]
  The film scanner 12 is visualized by developing a film image (photographed subject after being photographed) on a photographic photosensitive material (hereinafter simply referred to as a photographic film) such as a photographic film 38 (for example, a negative film or a reversal film). Negative or positive image: Claim51) and outputs image data obtained by the reading, and light emitted from the LED light source 30 and reduced in the amount of light unevenness by the light diffusion box 34 is applied to the film carrier 36. Light configured to be irradiated onto the set photographic film 38 and transmitted through the photographic film 38 is formed on a light receiving surface of an area CCD sensor 42 (or a line CCD sensor) via a lens 40. .
[0037]
The film carrier 36 intermittently conveys the photographic film 38 so that the film images are sequentially positioned on the optical axis (reading position) of the light emitted from the LED light source 30. In addition, the LED light source 30 is not illustrated with a number of LEDs that emit R light, a number of LEDs that emit G light, a number of LEDs that emit B light, and a number of LEDs that emit IR light. Driven by a driver (not shown) so as to emit R, G, B light sequentially in a state where a single image is located at the reading position, and is arranged on the entire surface of the substrate at a constant and high density. The
[0038]
Thus, the film image recorded on the photographic film 38 is sequentially read by the CCD sensor 42, and R, G, B, and IR signals corresponding to the film image are output from the CCD sensor 42. The signal output from the CCD sensor 42 is converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 43 and input to the image processing device 18. The film scanner 12 is provided with a scanner control unit 28, and the operation of each unit of the film scanner 12 is controlled by the scanner control unit 28. Further, reading may be performed for each film image a plurality of times (for example, pre-scanning for reading a film image at a relatively low resolution and fine scanning for reading a film image at a relatively high resolution).
[0039]
Further, as the input device according to the present embodiment, a reflective scanner that reads a reflective original (for example, color paper on which an image is recorded) and outputs image data obtained by the reading is provided separately from the film scanner 12 described above. May be. As this reflection type scanner, there is provided a scanner provided with an automatic supply mechanism for automatically and sequentially supplying a plurality of reflection originals to a reading unit of the scanner so that a plurality of reflection originals can be automatically and continuously read. It is preferable to use it.
[0040]
The film scanner 12, the media driver 14, and the image data receiving device 16 described above are connected to the preprocessing unit 44 of the image processing device 18, and the image data output from these image data input devices is the preprocessing unit. 44. The preprocessing unit 44 performs predetermined preprocessing on the input image data that differs depending on the image data input source. Examples of preprocessing for image data input from the film scanner 12 include dark correction, density conversion, shading correction, and defective pixel correction. Examples of the preprocessing for the image data input from the media driver 14 include image processing such as decompression of image data that has been compressed and recorded in an information storage medium and improvement in sharpness. The preprocessing for the image data input from the image data receiving device 16 includes, for example, decompression of compressed image data (for example, JPEG format image data) received by the image data receiving device 16.
[0041]
The preprocessing unit 44 is connected to the image processing unit 48 via the image memory 46, and the image data that has undergone the preprocessing in the preprocessing unit 44 is temporarily stored in the image memory 46 and then read out by the image processing unit 48. Is input to the image processing unit 48. Based on the image data read from the image memory 46, the image processing unit 48 automatically determines processing conditions for various types of image processing on the image data (setup calculation).
[0042]
The image processing executed by the image processing unit 48 includes, for example, gray balance adjustment, density adjustment, gradation control, hypertone processing for compressing the gradation of the ultra-low frequency luminance component of the image, and suppressing graininess. Image for improving the image quality of output images, such as hyper-sharpness processing that emphasizes sharpness, and defect portion correction processing that corrects defective portions of image data caused by scratches or foreign matter adhesion on photographic film based on IR data Processing. In addition, image processing for intentionally changing the tone (for example, image processing for finishing an output image in a portrait), image processing for processing an image (for example, a person existing in an original image is slender on the output image) Image processing such as image processing for finishing) may be executable.
[0043]
The image processing unit 48 performs various image processing on the image data read from the image memory 46 according to the processing conditions determined by the setup calculation. The image processing unit 48 is connected to the image data storage unit 54 of the inkjet printer 20, and the image data for which various types of image processing have been completed is transferred to the image data storage unit 54 and temporarily stored as recording image data.
[0044]
The image processing device 18 includes a PC having a configuration in which a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an input / output port are connected to each other via a bus, and a storage device such as a hard disk device (HDD) is connected to the input / output port. It is configured to include. An input device 52 including a CRT 50 and a keyboard and a mouse is connected to an input / output port of the PC. The preprocessing unit 44 and the image processing unit 48 described above can be realized, for example, by causing a PC to execute a predetermined program, but may include a dedicated hardware for executing various image processing. .
[0045]
Further, the image processing is performed on the image data based on the processing conditions of the image processing obtained by the setup calculation, and the image data after the image processing is output to the CRT 50, whereby the simulation image in which the finish of the output image is estimated is displayed on the CRT 50. The processing condition obtained by the setup calculation is verified by the operator, and when the correction of the processing condition is instructed via the input device 52, the processing condition is corrected in accordance with the instruction. Good.
[0046]
  On the other hand, a printer control unit 56 composed of a microcomputer or the like is connected to the image data storage unit 54 of the inkjet printer 20. A recording head 60 is connected to the printer control unit 56 through a driver 58, and a material type sensor 61, a recording material transport unit 62, an in-machine environment detection unit 63, a heating and drying unit 64, and a transparent film forming unit 65 are provided. Each is connected (details will be described later). The recording head 60 and the driver 58 correspond to the recording means of the present invention, and the material type sensor 61 is claimed.2The in-flight environment detection unit 63 corresponds to the medium type storage means described in claim 6.7It corresponds to the environmental state detection means described in 1. Further, the heating and drying section 64 is provided with heating means according to the present invention (specifically, claims5And the transparent film forming portion 65 is claimed in claim1, Claims8And claims9Respectively corresponding to the film forming means described above.
[0047]
As shown in FIG. 2, the inkjet printer 20 has a case 20A having a substantially box shape, and a long recording material 70 is stored in one end of the case 20A in a state of being wound around a reel 72A. The magazine 72 to be set is set. In a state where the magazine 72 is set in the housing 20A, the reel 72A is connected to a drawer conveyance motor via a speed reduction mechanism (both not shown), and is rotated by driving the drawer conveyance motor. As a result, the recording material 70 is pulled out from the magazine 72.
[0048]
The ink jet printer 20 according to the present embodiment is capable of recording an image on a wide variety of recording materials as the recording material 70, and the material type sensor 61 is a recording material 70 that performs image recording (a magazine set in the ink jet printer 20). 72 can detect the type of the recording material 70 housed in 72 (the sensor 61 is not shown in FIG. 2). As an example, a plurality of types of magazines 72 are prepared, and only a specific type of recording material 70 is stored in each magazine 72, and a mark (for example, a bar code or other mark) indicating the type of recording material 70 to be stored is provided. In the aspect recorded in the magazine 72, the material type sensor 61 can be configured to read a mark or the like recorded in the magazine 72 set in the inkjet printer 20.
[0049]
In addition, the type of the recording material 70 stored in the magazine 72 is indefinite, and a mark (for example, a barcode) indicating the type of the recording material 70 is recorded on the wrapping paper that wraps the unused recording material 70. In the present embodiment, the material type sensor 61 may be configured to detect the mark or the like recorded on the wrapping paper. The material type sensor 61 outputs the result of detecting the type of the recording material 70 on which image recording is performed to the printer control unit 56.
[0050]
The recording material on which the ink jet printer 20 according to the present embodiment can record an image is a recording material designed and manufactured on the assumption that a transparent film is not formed, such as plain paper, and a film forming material (for example, There are roughly three types of recording materials that are designed and manufactured on the premise that a transparent coating is formed after image recording, although recording materials with pre-adhered thermoplastic resin latex etc. and coating materials are not attached. Is done.
[0051]
The recording material 70 pulled out from the magazine 72 is transported toward the other end side of the housing 20 </ b> A by transport rollers 74 </ b> A to 74 </ b> F arranged on the downstream side in the pulling direction of the recording material 70. The transport roller 74A is rotationally driven by the driving force of the drawer transport motor, and the transport rollers 74B to 74F are rotationally driven by the driving force of a synchronous transport motor (not shown). A loop forming mechanism (not shown) is provided between the conveying rollers 74A and 74B, and a loop of the recording material 70 is formed between the conveying rollers 74A and 74B by this loop forming mechanism. In the vicinity of the loop formation position, loop sensors 84 each consisting of a pair of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element facing each other across the loop formation position are provided at two places having different height positions.
[0052]
The drawer conveyance motor, synchronous conveyance motor, loop formation mechanism, and conveyance rollers 74A to 74F constitute a recording material conveyance unit 62. The printer control unit 56 forms a loop of the recording material 70 once by the loop formation mechanism. After that, the loop sensor 84 positioned on the upper side does not detect the loop of the recording material 70 (the state where the light emitted from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element without being blocked by the recording material). Then, by pulling out the recording material 70 from the magazine 72 by driving the drawer conveying motor to rotate the reel 72A and the conveying roller 74A, the loop sensor 84 positioned below the recording material 70 When the loop is detected (the light emitted from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element by being shielded by the lowermost part of the loop of the recording material 70). It will have state when) is repeated to stop the withdrawal of the recording material 70 from the magazine 72 to stop the drive of the pull-out conveyor motor.
[0053]
By forming the loop, the recording material 70 can be conveyed asynchronously withdrawing the recording material 70 from the magazine 72 on the downstream side of the loop. For this reason, the printer control unit 56 drives the synchronous conveyance motor so that the recording material 70 is conveyed in synchronization with the image recording on the recording material 70 by the recording head 60 on the downstream side of the loop, thereby conveying the conveyance roller 74B. ˜74F is driven to rotate.
[0054]
A recording head 60 is disposed above the conveyance rollers 74B and 74C. As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 60 is disposed in the vicinity of the conveyance path of the recording material 70. A shaft 86 is disposed in the recording head 60 along the width direction of the recording material 70 and supported at both ends by a box-shaped frame 88. The recording head 60 is in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 86, that is, the recording material. 70 is movable along the width direction.
[0055]
Further, a passage for the recording material 70 is formed at the bottom of the frame 88, and projections 88A for guiding both ends in the width direction of the recording material 70 passing through the inside of the frame 88 are formed. The protrusion 88A constitutes a supporting member for the recording material 70 together with the bottom surface of the frame 88. The recording material 70 conveyed by the conveying rollers 74B to 74F has a lower surface supported by the bottom surface of the frame 88 and both ends in the width direction. An image is formed by the recording head 60 while being held at a fixed position by the protrusion 88A (details will be described later).
[0056]
The recording head 60 is attached to an endless belt 94 wound around a pair of pulleys 90 and 92. The pair of pulleys 90 and 92 are pivotally supported by a bracket (not shown), and this bracket is attached to the frame 88. The endless belt 92 is rotated in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 by transmitting a driving force of a scanning motor (not shown), and the recording head 60 is moved along the shaft 86 along the arrow A direction and the arrow in FIG. It is moved in the B direction. The driving of the scanning motor is also controlled by the printer control unit 56.
[0057]
Further, one end of the recording head 60 is fixed to the side plate of the frame 88 and is bent in a U shape in advance, and the bending position is moved in accordance with the movement of the recording head 60 in the directions of arrows A and B in FIG. A flexible harness 96 configured to move is attached. The flexible harness 96 includes a plurality of signal lines for transmitting ejection signals generated by the driver 58 and a hollow supply pipe for supplying ink to the recording head 60.
[0058]
On the other hand, the recording head 60 includes a plurality of nozzle rows (a number of nozzles 60A, 60B, and 60C in FIG. 3) arranged in the width direction of the recording material 70. , 60D), corresponding to each nozzle row, a plurality of ink chambers are formed inside the recording head 60, and a plurality of main tanks (each communicating with any one of the plurality of ink chambers) 4) are attached to the recording head 60, respectively.
[0059]
A plurality of main tanks store inks of different colors (for example, C, M, Y, and BK), and are supplied to each nozzle row through an ink chamber. Thus, different colors of ink are ejected from each nozzle for each nozzle row.
[0060]
Note that a plurality of supply pipes 106 (see FIG. 4), which are a part of the flexible harness 96 described above, are provided in detail for each color, and one end of each supply pipe 106 has a plurality of main tanks 104. Are connected to each of them. Further, the other end of each supply pipe 106 is connected to one of a plurality of sub tanks 108 (see FIG. 4) provided for each color in the same manner as the main tank 104, and the main part is connected to the main tank from the sub tank 108. A supply pump 110 that supplies ink to the tank 104 is provided.
[0061]
Since the main tank 104 attached to the recording head 60 moves integrally with the recording head 60, there is a limit to the ink storage capacity due to weight and size, but the sub tank 108 is separate from the recording head 60 and has a weight. In this embodiment, the storage capacity is much larger than that of the main tank 104 because there are few restrictions on the size. For this reason, an image having a printing area of 30% is at least 30000 cm without refilling the sub tank 108 with ink.²It is possible to output the above.
[0062]
On the other hand, as a discharge method for discharging ink from the nozzles, any of various known discharge methods can be adopted. For example, as a typical method, a pulse voltage is applied to a piezoelectric element attached to an ink chamber. Is applied to the piezoelectric element to change the ink liquid pressure in the ink chamber, and the change in the ink liquid pressure is used to eject ink droplets from the nozzle, or the heating element provided in the ink chamber It is possible to employ a thermal method or the like in which the ink is heated by this, and ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles by bubbles generated in the ink chamber by this heating. As shown in FIG. 4, the recording head 60 also has a pump 112 that sucks ink in all the ink chambers inside the recording head 60 by generating a negative pressure in order to eliminate clogging of nozzle ejection openings. Installed.
[0063]
Based on the recording image data read from the image data storage unit 54, the printer control unit 56 records the image represented by the recording image data in dot units for each color component (for example, C, M, Y, BK). An image signal representing the drive timing of each nozzle of the recording head 60 (for example, energization timing of a piezoelectric element or heater provided corresponding to each nozzle) is generated and recorded so as to be recorded on the material 70 The image signal is output to the driver 58, and the scanning motor is driven so that the recording head 60 moves along the shaft 86 at a predetermined moving speed.
[0064]
The driver 58 selectively drives each nozzle at a timing corresponding to the image signal based on the image signal input from the printer control unit 56 (for example, selectively energizes the piezoelectric element or heater of each nozzle). A signal is generated, and the generated ejection signal is supplied to the recording head 60 via the flexible harness 96. As a result, ink droplets ejected from the nozzles of the recording head 60 at the timings corresponding to the image signals respectively adhere to the recording material 70, and the main scanning is performed by the movement of the recording head 60 and the sub-scanning is performed by the conveyance of the recording material 70. As a result, a color image is recorded on the recording material 70 with the same number of dot rows as the number of nozzles constituting each nozzle row provided in the recording head 60 as a unit. Thus, the recording head 60 and the driver 58 correspond to the recording means of the present invention.
[0065]
In the present embodiment, as described above, a mechanism for supporting the recording head 60 and moving the recording head 60 (the shaft 86, pulleys 90 and 92 around which the endless belt 94 is wound, etc.) and the recording material 70. These support members are each integrated with the frame 88 to constitute a recording unit including the recording head 60. A main body frame 89 of the ink jet printer 20 is positioned below the frame 88, and a plurality of anti-vibration means are provided between the frame 88 and the main body frame 89 at substantially constant intervals. A vibration rubber 87 is interposed. As the vibration isolating rubber 87, various elastic bodies such as natural rubber, resin rubber, elastomer and the like can be applied.
[0066]
As a result, the recording unit comprising the recording head 60, the support / movement mechanism of the recording head 60, the support member of the recording material 70, and the frame 88 is vibrationally insulated from the main body frame 89 and generated inside or outside the inkjet printer 20. Since the vibration transmitted to the main body frame 89 can be prevented from being transmitted to the recording unit, the positional relationship between the components constituting the recording unit, regardless of the occurrence of vibration inside or outside the inkjet printer 20, In addition, the positional relationship between the recording head 60 and the recording material 70 can be maintained constant, and fluctuations in the image quality of the recorded image can be suppressed.
[0067]
The anti-vibration means may be any means that can prevent, block or reduce the propagation of vibration from the main body frame 89 by absorbing the energy of impact or vibration by elastic deformation in the compression or shear direction. In addition to the vibration rubber 87, for example, an elastic body that does not cause self-excited vibration and has a high energy absorption effect by a spring action, such as a vibration-proof cork, a vibration-proof air spring, a vibration-proof metal spring, and the like. The used dynamic damper or the like can be applied. Moreover, as an elastic body used as a vibration isolating means, a viscoelastic body is particularly preferable. Since the elastic force of the viscoelastic body changes according to the deformation speed, the propagation of vibration can be more reliably prevented. Further, the vibration isolating means may use the above-described vibration isolating material alone or may be configured by using a plurality of types of anti-vibration materials together. For example, a vibration isolating rubber 87 is provided with a spring (coil spring) or the like. The vibration isolating means may be configured in combination.
[0068]
Further, the interposition positions of the anti-vibration rubber 87 between the frame 88 and the main body frame 89 are not limited to the positions illustrated in FIG. 3, and the interposition positions of the anti-vibration rubber 87 and the number of the anti-vibration rubbers 87 are as follows. It can be appropriately selected as necessary. Furthermore, in the above description, the recording head 60, its moving mechanism, the support member for the recording material 70, and the frame 88 are integrated as a recording unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be. For example, the entire conveyance mechanism of the recording material 70 existing between the arrangement position of the loop forming mechanism and the arrangement position of the heat drying unit 64 may be integrated, or the loop formation mechanism and the heat drying unit may be integrated. In the case where a back printing portion for performing printing on the back surface of the recording material 70 is provided between 64 and 64, this back printing portion may be integrated together.
[0069]
As is apparent from FIG. 2, among the transport rollers 74 </ b> A to 74 </ b> F, each transport roller other than the transport roller 74 </ b> C is composed of a pair of rollers that sandwich and transport the recording material 70. The conveyance roller 74C disposed at the position closest to the recording head 60 disposition position on the downstream side of the 60 disposition position is constituted by a single roller that contacts only the back surface of the image recording surface. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the recorded image from being deteriorated due to the foreign matter such as the conveyance roller coming into contact with the image recording surface immediately after the image is recorded by the recording head 60.
[0070]
Further, between the conveying rollers 74C and 74D, ink droplets ejected from the recording head 60 adhere to the recording material 70 on which an image is recorded by supplying hot air to heat (applying thermal energy). Thus, a heating and drying unit 64 for drying the solvent contained in the ink droplets attached to the recording material 70 is provided. The conveying path of the recording material 70 in the heating and drying unit 64 (between the conveying rollers 74C and 74D) is formed in a substantially U shape, and a blower that generates an air flow above the substantially U-shaped conveying path. 76 is installed.
[0071]
A chamber 80 is connected via a duct 78 to the exhaust side of the blower 76 directed to the lower side of the heating and drying unit 64. A heater 82 is mounted in the duct 78, and the air flow generated by the blower 76 is heated by the heater 82 and sent into the chamber 80 as hot air. The chamber 80 is positioned on the lower side (inside the substantially U-shaped conveyance path so that the outer peripheral surface of the chamber 80 faces the recording material 70 conveyed through the substantially U-shaped conveyance path at a substantially constant interval. And a plurality of holes are formed in the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the hot air sent into the chamber 80 passes through a large number of holes drilled in the outer peripheral surface of the chamber 80 and is blown onto the image recording surface of the recording material 70 conveyed through the substantially U-shaped conveyance path.
[0072]
A temperature sensor 120 and a humidity sensor 122 are attached to the downstream side of the arrangement position of the heater 82 in the duct 78, and the temperature sensor 120 and the humidity sensor 122 are connected to the printer control unit 56. In addition, a temperature sensor 124 and a humidity sensor 126 as an in-machine environment detection unit 63 are also installed inside the housing 20A of the inkjet printer 20. The printer controller 56 detects the temperature and humidity of the hot air supplied to the recording material 70 detected by the temperature sensor 120 and the humidity sensor 122, and the temperature inside the body of the inkjet printer 20 detected by the temperature sensor 124 and the humidity sensor 126. And energization to the heater 82 is controlled based on the humidity.
[0073]
Further, on the downstream side of the heat drying unit 64, a transparent film forming unit 65 for forming a transparent film on the recording material 70 on which an image is recorded is provided. Hereinafter, the transparent film will be described first. When an ink droplet is ejected from an inkjet recording head to form an image on a recording medium, a transparent polymer film or the like is used as the outermost layer in order to improve the weather resistance of the image and maintain high image quality over a long period of time. It is preferable to perform a post-treatment for providing a transparent film. This transparent film has the effect of improving the weather resistance of the image. Here, the term “transparent” refers to a state in which an image formed on a recording medium can be observed through a film. The material of the transparent film is not particularly limited, and various polymer materials can be used, for example. That is, it may be a water-soluble polymer such as gelatin or polyvinyl alcohol, or a hydrophobic polymer such as polymethyl methacrylate.
[0074]
The methods for forming a transparent film include (1) a method of pasting (laminating) a transparent polymer film previously formed into a sheet, (2) a method of applying a polymer solution, and (3) a surface after image formation. (4) A thermoplastic resin porous layer is provided in advance as the uppermost layer, and after the image formation, the resin porous layer is coated with a liquid coating agent and solidified with ultraviolet rays or infrared rays to form a transparent overcoat layer. By heating (pressing if necessary) to form a transparent resin film, (5) applying a material such as a latex polymer (may be applied to the entire surface by an inkjet method), A method of forming a transparent resin film by heating and melting is mentioned.
[0075]
As will be described below, the transparent film forming unit 65 according to the present embodiment includes the method (4) (hereinafter referred to as the first film forming method) and the method (5) (hereinafter referred to as the second film forming method). And the method (1) (hereinafter referred to as the third film forming method) can be selectively used to form a transparent film, but other methods can be used to form a transparent film. You may comprise the film formation part 65. FIG.
[0076]
The resin porous layer in the method (4) (first film forming method) is preferably formed by applying thermoplastic resin particles on a silica or alumina hydrate porous layer and drying it. As a thermoplastic resin, what consists of various thermoplastic resin materials can be used. Examples of the thermoplastic resin particles include vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, styrene, acrylic, urethane, polyester, ethylene, amide, epoxy, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate- Thermoplastic resin particles contained in latex such as acrylic, SBR, NBR, or copolymers thereof can be preferably used. These particles can be used singly or as a mixture of a plurality of types within a range that does not impair the film formability and the like. The particle size of the thermoplastic resin particles is, for example, 0.1 μm to 40 μm, preferably 2 μm to 20 μm.
[0077]
In order to prepare a coating liquid containing the thermoplastic resin particles, it is preferable that these materials are mainly dispersed in an appropriate solvent, for example, an aqueous solution, and the solid content is in the range of 10 to 50% by weight. It is possible to adjust appropriately according to the coating method. The coating amount is preferably adjusted so that the dry layer thickness is usually 2 to 10 μm in order to give a surface gloss, suppress the expression of interference colors, and obtain a level having a sufficient function as a protective film. .
[0078]
In the first film formation method, an image can be formed by applying ink droplets to a recording medium and then making the outermost porous thermoplastic resin layer non-porous (transparent). When the porous thermoplastic resin layer is made nonporous, it may improve the weather resistance such as water resistance, light resistance and gas resistance of the image, impart gloss to the image, and enable long-term storage of the image. it can.
[0079]
Examples of a method for making the outermost porous thermoplastic resin layer non-porous include a method of heating and melting the porous thermoplastic resin layer. The heating temperature is preferably in the range of 70 ° C. to 180 ° C. although there is a relationship with time in consideration of the influence on the material such as the base material, the ink acceptance amount and the ink, and the surface property after non-porousing.
[0080]
It should be noted that the outermost layer also has a dispersant, a thickener, a pH adjuster, a lubricant, a fluidity modifier, a surfactant, an antifoaming agent, a water-resistant agent, a release agent, and a fluorescent whitening agent as necessary. In addition, an ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant and the like may be added within a range that does not hinder the present invention.
[0081]
Three conveyance paths having different height positions are formed between the conveyance rollers 74D and 74F as conveyance paths for conveying the recording material 70, and the transparent film forming unit 65 according to the present embodiment includes: A guide member (not shown) is provided for selectively guiding the recording material 70 passing through the arrangement position of the conveyance roller 74D to any conveyance path. Each of the conveyance paths corresponds to a different film formation method among the first to third film formation methods, and the printer control unit 56 includes a recording material 70 that passes through the arrangement position of the conveyance roller 74D. Control is performed so that the conveyance path corresponding to the film forming method for the recording material 70 is conveyed.
[0082]
In addition, the 1st conveyance path located in the highest position respond | corresponds to the 1st film formation method. Further, the second conveyance path located at the intermediate height position corresponds to the second film formation method, and a film-forming material such as latex polymer is placed in the middle of the second conveyance path. An application head 130 for applying to the recording material 70 by an inkjet method is provided. The third conveyance path located at the lowest position corresponds to the third film forming method, and a transparent polymer sheet 132 formed into a sheet shape is provided in the middle of the third conveyance path. A laminating section 134 is provided that is pasted (laminated) on the recording material 70.
[0083]
Further, a secondary heating unit 136 for forming a transparent film by applying thermal energy generated by the heater to the recording material 70 is provided on the downstream side of the conveying roller 74F. The appropriate heating temperature by the secondary heating unit 136 varies depending on the film forming method, and the printer control unit 56 sets a temperature corresponding to the film forming method to be performed as the heating temperature by the secondary heating unit 136, The secondary heating unit 136 controls energization of the heater so that the heating temperature becomes a set temperature. A cutter 100 that cuts the long recording material 70 in units of individual images is provided on the downstream side of the secondary heating unit 136. The recording material 70 cut for each image by the cutter 100 is discharged onto a tray 102 provided outside the housing 20A.
[0084]
Next, as an operation of the present embodiment, a heating / drying / film forming process executed by the printer control unit 56 when the inkjet printer 20 records an image on the recording material 70 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
[0085]
In step 200, the type of the recording material 70 (recording material 70 on which an image is recorded by the inkjet printer 20) detected by the material type sensor 61 is captured. In step 202, the temperature T in the housing 20 </ b> A detected by the temperature sensor 124 and the humidity sensor 126 of the in-machine environment detection unit 63._ROOMAnd humidity H_ROOMCapture.
[0086]
  In the next step 204, the recording image data of each image to be recorded on the recording material 70 is captured, and the recording area is divided into a plurality of areas based on the captured recording image data. For each of the images recorded on the recording material 70, the ejection amount of each droplet is obtained, and the adhesion amount of the solvent in units of the individual regions is calculated based on the concentration of the solvent in the ink droplet. Then, the maximum value S of the adhesion amount of the solvent calculated in units of individual regions of each image._MAXTo extract. The number of divisions of the recorded image can be determined as appropriate, but each region preferably has a shape with an aspect ratio of 1 or a shape close to 1 (for example, a square). Step 204 above is the claim4This corresponds to the detection of the “amount of solvent adhering to the recording medium”.
[0087]
  In the next step 206, it is determined whether or not a transparent film is formed on the recording material 70. Non-volatile storage means 56A (which may be a ROM or a semiconductor memory connected to a backup power source) built in the printer control unit 56, as recording material information, as shown in Table 1 below as an example. For various recording materials 70 on which an image can be recorded by the ink jet printer 20, the “presence / absence of transparent film formation”, “film formation method”, and “inking speed” of ink droplets are stored. Note that the storage means 56A is claimed.2This corresponds to the storage means described in (1).
[0088]
In step 206, the determination is made by referring to the corresponding information (whether or not transparent film is formed) using the type of the recording material 70 taken in step 200 as a key. For example, in the example of Table 1, the determination is negative when the recording material type is “A”, and the determination is positive when the recording material type is “any of BD”.
[0089]
[Table 1]

[0090]
Instead of determining whether or not to form a transparent film based on the recording material information, for example, the operator is inquired whether or not to form a transparent film, and the determination is performed based on the selection result by the operator. It may be.
[0091]
By the way, when an image is recorded on the recording material 70 (an ink droplet ejected from the recording head 60 is attached), the image recording surface of the recording material 70 becomes wet with the solvent contained in the ink droplet. However, since the transparent film is not formed on the recording material 70 when the determination in step 206 is negative, the foreign material contacts the image recording surface of the recording material 70 (in this embodiment, the recording head). If at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording material 70 has been removed by the time the recording material 70 on which the image is recorded by 60 is in contact with the conveying roller 74D), the image recording surface is Even if a foreign object comes into contact with the image, there is no deterioration in image quality such as a disturbance in the recorded image. The time until the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording material 70 is removed depends on the ink droplet soaking speed into the recording material.
[0092]
For this reason, if the determination in step 206 is negative, the process proceeds to step 208, and the recording material information is referred to using the type of the recording material 70 taken in step 200 as a key, so that the ink droplets of the recording material 70 are printed. Recognizing the soaking speed Vx. In step 210, based on the ink droplet permeation speed recognized in step 206, at least the recording material until the recording material 70 on which the image is recorded passes through the heating and drying unit 64 and contacts the transport roller 74D. The hot air temperature T supplied to the recording material 70 by the heating and drying unit 64 is set in consideration of the temperature and humidity in the housing 20A taken in step 202 so that the solvent adhering to the surface layer 70 is removed. Then, the process proceeds to step 230.
[0093]
Specifically, in the present embodiment, since the recording material 70 is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 74B to 74F at a substantially constant conveyance speed, it is located between the arrangement position of the recording head 60 and the arrangement position of the conveyance roller 74D. The recording material conveyance path is a section (first section) from when the recording head 60 records the recording material 70 to when the recording material 70 is heated and dried by the heating and drying unit 64, and the heating and drying unit 64 records the recording material. A section (second section) in which hot air is blown onto 70 and a section (third section) until the recording material 70 comes into contact with the conveyance roller 74D after the heating and drying by the heating and drying unit 64 are divided. The time required for the recording material 70 to pass through each section is also substantially constant.
[0094]
The solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording material 70 is the temperature T in the housing 20A in the first section and the third section._ROOMAnd humidity H_ROOMVolatilization rate V according to₁Volatilized at (V₁= F (T_ROOM, H_ROOM)), In the second section, the volatilization rate V according to the temperature T and humidity H of the hot air supplied by the heating and drying unit 64.₂Volatilizes at (V₂= F (T, H)), and gradually decreases by infiltrating the inside of the image receiving layer of the recording material 70 at the infiltration speed Vx through the first to third sections.
[0095]
Therefore, the state in which the solvent is removed from the surface layer of the recording material 70 until the recording material 70 comes into contact with the conveying roller 74D is obtained by changing the temperature T of the hot air supplied by the heating and drying unit 64 to the following ( It can be realized by controlling to satisfy the expression (1) (however, t₁, T₂, T_ThreeIs the time required for the recording material 70 to pass through the first section, the second section, and the third section).
[0096]
S_MAX= V₁(t₁+ T_Three) + V₂t₂+ Vx (t₁+ T₂+ T_Three(1)
Specifically, the volatilization rate V in the second section based on equation (1)₂And set a predetermined value as the hot air humidity H (humidity H in the housing 20A)._ROOMVolatilization rate V₂Between temperature and hot air temperature T and humidity H (V₂= F (T, H)). As described above, by setting the temperature T so that the solvent is removed from the surface layer of the recording material 70 until the recording material 70 comes into contact with the conveyance roller 74D, the heat applied to the recording material 70 is set. Since the amount of energy can be minimized, energy saving can be realized.
[0097]
  The setting of the hot air temperature T described above is as follows.1Control when the transparent film is not formed in the control means according to claim 1, and claim2It corresponds to the control of the control means described in 1. In addition, as in equation (1), setting the hot air temperature T in consideration of the temperature and humidity in the first section and the third section is also claimed.7It corresponds to the control by the control means described in 1.
[0098]
It should be noted that the ink droplet soaking speed Vx of the recording material 70 has a greater influence on the solvent removal time from the surface layer of the recording material 70 than the amount of solvent adhering to the recording material 70. In the case where it is estimated that there is no large variation in the amount of solvent adhered in units of individual regions, for example, the amount of solvent adhered in units of the individual regions (for example, Maximum value S_MAXThe temperature T of the hot air may be set using a constant value.
[0099]
On the other hand, when a transparent film is formed on the recording material, the determination in step 206 is denied and the process proceeds to step 212. By referring to the recording material information using the type of the recording material 70 taken in step 200 as a key. Then, a method for forming a film on the recording material 70 is determined. As for the film forming method, instead of determining based on the recording material information, for example, the film forming method may be inquired of the operator, and the determination may be performed based on the selection result by the operator. In step 214, the conveyance path of the recording material 70 in the transparent film forming unit 65 is set according to the film forming method determined in step 212.
[0100]
In the next step 216, the processing is branched according to the film forming method for the recording material 70. When the first film forming method is applied to the recording material 70, the process proceeds from step 216 to step 218, and the film forming material in which the heating temperature by the secondary heating unit 136 is attached to the recording material 70 in advance is used. The heater of the secondary heating unit 136 is driven so as to achieve a melting temperature. As a result, the recording material 70 on which the transparent film is formed by the first film forming method is transported through the first transport path after being discharged from the heating and drying unit 64, and the pre-attached film forming material is secondary. A transparent coating film is formed by being melted by heating in the heating unit 136.
[0101]
When the second film forming method is applied to the recording material 70, the process proceeds from step 216 to step 220, and the film forming material is applied to the recording material 70 with respect to the coating head 130 of the transparent film forming unit 65. To apply. In step 222, the heater of the secondary heating unit 136 is driven so that the heating temperature by the secondary heating unit 136 becomes a temperature at which the film forming material applied to the recording material 70 by the coating head 130 is melted. Thus, the recording material 70 on which the transparent film is formed by the second film forming method is discharged from the heat drying unit 64 and then conveyed through the second conveyance path, whereby the coating material is formed by the coating head 130. Is applied by an ink jet method, and then the applied film-forming material is melted by heating in the secondary heating unit 136 to form a transparent film.
[0102]
When the third film forming method is applied to the recording material 70, the process proceeds from step 216 to step 224, and the transparent polymer sheet is added to the recording material 70 with respect to the laminate part 134 of the transparent film forming part 65. Instruct to laminate 132. In Step 226, the heater of the secondary heating unit 136 is driven so that the heating temperature by the secondary heating unit 136 becomes a temperature that improves the flatness of the laminated transparent polymer sheet 132. As a result, the recording material 70 on which the transparent film is formed by the third film forming method is discharged from the heat drying unit 64 and then conveyed through the third conveyance path, so that the laminating unit 134 performs the transparent polymer sheet. 132 is laminated, and then the laminated transparent polymer sheet 132 is heated by the secondary heating unit 136, whereby a transparent film having high flatness is formed.
[0103]
In addition, when laminating the transparent polymer sheet 132, it may be bonded instead of being heated, or heating and pressure bonding may be used in combination. Moreover, some transparent polymer sheets 132 can obtain a transparent film having high flatness without any post-treatment such as heating or pressure bonding. When such a transparent polymer sheet 132 is used. The post-processing can be omitted.
[0104]
By the way, when the transparent film is formed on the recording material 70, if the solvent adhering to the recording material 70 remains at the time of forming the transparent film, the remaining solvent is confined in the transparent film. Since the trapped solvent may cause a reduction in the image quality of the recorded image, it is necessary to remove substantially the entire amount of the solvent attached to the recording material 70 when forming the transparent film. The time required for removing substantially the entire amount of the solvent to which the recording material 70 is attached depends on the amount of the solvent attached to the recording material 70.
[0105]
For this reason, when the processing in the previous step 218, or steps 220 and 222, or steps 224 and 226 is performed, the process proceeds to step 228, and the transparent film is applied to the recording material 70 based on the maximum value of the amount of solvent adhesion calculated in step 204. In consideration of the temperature and humidity in the housing 20A taken in step 202 so that substantially the entire amount of the solvent adhering to the recording material 70 is removed before the recording material 70 is formed, the heating and drying unit 64 causes the recording material 70 to be removed. The temperature T of the hot air supplied to is set.
[0106]
Specifically, when a transparent film is formed on the recording material 70, it is necessary to remove the solvent soaked into the image receiving layer from the surface layer of the recording material 70. Therefore, from the above equation (1), the image receiving layer A term in consideration of a decrease in the amount of solvent adhering from the surface layer of the recording material 70 accompanying the penetration of the solvent into the inside (: Vx (t₁+ T₂+ T_ThreeBased on the following equation (2) excluding)), the volatilization rate V in the second section₂And set a predetermined value as the hot air humidity H, and the volatilization rate V determined in advance.₂Between temperature and hot air temperature T and humidity H (V₂= F (T, H)). By controlling the energization to the heater of the heating and drying unit 64 based on the temperature T, when forming a transparent film on the recording material 70, a state in which substantially the entire amount of the solvent adhering to the recording material 70 is removed. be able to.
[0107]
S_MAX= V₁(t₁+ T_Three) + V₂t₂    ... (2)
Note that time t in equation (2)_ThreeMay be the same value as the expression (1) (the time required for the recording material 70 to pass through the third section), but instead, the heat drying by the heat drying unit 64 is completed. The time from when the transparent film is formed on the recording material 70 to the start of the recording material 70 (in the ink jet printer 20 according to the present embodiment, this time differs for each individual film forming method) may be used.
[0108]
  The setting of the hot air temperature T described above is as follows.1Control when the transparent film is formed in the control means according to claim 3, and claim4It corresponds to the control by the control means described in 1. In addition, the hot air temperature T may be set in consideration of the temperature and humidity of the first section and the third section as in the formula (2).7It corresponds to the control by the control means described in 1.
[0109]
When the temperature T of the hot air is set in step 210 or step 228 described above, energization to the heater 82 of the heating and drying unit 64 is started, and the energization amount to the heater 82 (the magnitude of the current flowing to the heater 82 may be sufficient, The on / off duty ratio of the heater 82 may be controlled) according to the set temperature T. Then, when image recording on the recording material 70 is started, the blower 76 is activated, and hot air is blown onto the recording material 70 sent into the heating and drying unit 64 to remove the solvent adhering to the recording material 70. .
[0110]
In the next step 230, it is determined whether or not the heating of the recording material 70 is finished. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 232 and the actual temperature T of the hot air blown onto the recording material 70 is detected._REAnd humidity H_REIs detected by the temperature sensor 120 and the humidity sensor 122. In step 234, the detected temperature T_REAnd humidity H_REBased on the above, the energization amount to the heater 82 of the heating and drying unit 64 is adjusted.
[0111]
  For example, humidity H_REIs lower than a predetermined humidity by a predetermined value or more, the volatilization rate of the solvent by blowing hot air is the volatilization rate V obtained from the equation (1) or (2).₂Therefore, the set temperature T is corrected so that the set temperature T is lower than the predetermined temperature, and the corrected set temperature T and detected temperature T are corrected._REThe energization amount to the heater 82 is adjusted according to the deviation. Humidity H_REIs higher than a predetermined humidity by a predetermined value or more, the volatilization rate of the solvent is determined from the equation (1) or (2).₂Therefore, the set temperature T is corrected so that the set temperature T becomes a predetermined temperature higher, and the corrected set temperature T and detected temperature T are corrected._REThe energization amount to the heater 82 is adjusted according to the deviation. In addition, this step 234 is claimed.6The control by the control means described in the above is also supported.
[0112]
If the process of step 234 is performed, it will return to step 230 and will repeat step 230-234 until determination of step 230 is affirmed. Thereby, when the recording material 70 on which the image is recorded comes into contact with the conveying roller 74D, or when a transparent film is formed on the recording material 70, the solvent attached to the recording material 70 becomes a desired dry state. As described above, the amount of heat energy can be controlled with high accuracy. When the recording material 70 is discharged from the heat drying unit 64, the determination in step 230 is affirmed and the process is terminated. As described above, thermal energy is applied to the recording material 70 to which the solvent has adhered in accordance with image recording, and the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording material 70 or substantially the entire amount of the solvent adhering to the recording material 70 is removed. As a result, it is possible to increase the processing capacity (the number of image recordings per unit time) of the inkjet printer 20.
[0113]
The configuration of the heating and drying unit 64 is not limited to the above. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-289297, the drying rack through which the recording material passes is connected to a blower outlet and a suction port. A configuration may be adopted in which a hot air circulation path is formed by connecting each of them, and the hot air is circulated in the circulation path while purifying the circulating air with an air filter and mixing with the outside air. As disclosed in the Gazette, a configuration is adopted in which a plurality of heaters are arranged in a direction crossing the direction in which hot air flows, and the deviation of the temperature distribution is compensated by separately controlling the energization of each heater. May be. Further, as disclosed in JP-A-8-76346 and JP-A-8-76344, an image recording surface of the recording material is conveyed by conveying the recording material in a suspended state by the wind pressure of hot air. You may employ | adopt the structure which adds a thermal energy, preventing that it contacts with a foreign material.
[0114]
In the above description, an example in which thermal energy is applied to the recording material by blowing hot air on the recording material has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and heating means such as an infrared heater may be used as a recording material conveyance path. It may be arranged in the vicinity of the recording material, and heat energy may be applied to the recording material by radiant heat from the heating means.
[0115]
Further, in the above, the set temperature T of hot air for all images recorded on the recording material 70 is constant, and substantially constant heat energy is applied to the portion where each image on the recording material 70 is recorded. When a transparent film is formed on 70, the amount of heat energy required to remove substantially the entire amount of solvent attached to the recording material 70 greatly depends on the amount of solvent attached to the recording material 70. For this reason, the amount of heat energy applied to the recording material (for example, the temperature T of the hot air) is set and controlled in units of single or multiple frames based on the amount of solvent attached to the single or multiple frames. Also good.
[0116]
Controlling the amount of thermal energy applied to the recording material in units of single or multiple frames is, for example, in the aspect of applying thermal energy by blowing hot air on the recording material, a plurality of sections where the thermal energy is applied to the recording material. Each area is divided into hot air generating mechanisms (for example, a mechanism comprising a blower, a heater, and a guide member that guides the generated hot air to the image recording surface of the recording material) and sprays the recording material in each area. Control the temperature of the hot air separately (for example, when the boundaries of the portions of the image recording surface of the recording material that differ in the amount of thermal energy that passes through each region sequentially pass through each region as the recording material is conveyed) This is realized by switching the temperature of the hot air blown to the recording material in order from the upstream region according to the movement of the boundary. Also, in an aspect in which heat energy is applied by radiation from a heating means such as an infrared heater, for example, a plurality of heating means are arranged along the recording material conveyance path, and the amount of heat energy that each heating means applies to the recording material is set. It is realizable by controlling separately similarly to the above. As described above, the amount of heat energy applied to the recording material can be optimized in units of single or plural frames.
[0117]
  Further, in the above, when removing the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording material, the amount of thermal energy (warm air temperature T) applied to the recording material is set based on the ink droplet penetration speed into the recording material. -Although controlled, it is not limited to this. Since the reflectance of the recording material with respect to light of a predetermined wavelength (for example, infrared rays) decreases as the amount of solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording material decreases, for example, the reflectance of the recording material in the vicinity of the conveyance path of the recording material in the heat drying unit 64 is reduced. A reflectance sensor comprising a light emitting element that emits infrared rays and a photoelectric conversion element that photoelectrically converts infrared rays emitted from the light emitting elements and reflected by a recording material in at least one place (preferably a plurality of places).3The reflectance detection means described in the above is provided, and the infrared reflectance of each part of the image recording surface of the recording material is measured by the reflectance sensor, and the heating and drying unit 64 applies thermal energy to the recording material based on the measurement result. The rate of decrease in infrared reflectance at each part of the image recording surface of the recording material is detected, and the solvent is removed from the surface layer of the recording material for the portion where the rate of decrease in infrared reflectance is 0 or a value close to zero. It may be determined that the heat energy has been applied, and the application of further heat energy to the portion may be stopped. This control is claimed3It corresponds to the control by the control means described in 1.
[0118]
  In addition, when heat energy is applied to the recording material, the surface temperature of the recording material hardly rises when the solvent remains on the surface of the recording material, and clearly rises when the solvent is removed from the surface of the recording material. Therefore, for example, a temperature sensor that detects the surface temperature of the recording material in at least one location (preferably a plurality of locations) in the vicinity of the conveyance path of the recording material in the heating and drying unit 64 (claims)3The surface temperature detecting means described in 1) is provided, the surface temperature of each part of the image recording surface of the recording material is measured by this temperature sensor, and the change in the surface temperature of each part of the image recording surface of the recording material based on the measurement result And the heating and drying unit 64 determines that the solvent has been removed from the surface layer of the recording material for the part where the surface temperature is changing at a change rate of a predetermined value or more as the thermal energy is applied to the recording material. You may control so that the application of the further heat energy with respect to this part may be stopped. This control is also claimed3It corresponds to the control by the control means described in 1.
[0119]
Further, when removing the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording material before the foreign material comes into contact with the image recording surface of the recording material, the ink droplet soaking speed into the recording material, the recording material for light of a predetermined wavelength The amount of heat energy applied to the recording material may be controlled by using two or more parameters of the reflectance and the surface temperature of the recording material in combination.
[0120]
In the above description, when removing almost the entire amount of the solvent adhering to the recording material, the amount of thermal energy applied to the recording material is determined based only on the amount of solvent adhering to the recording material. As the drop dyeing speed increases, the amount of solvent that penetrates into the image-receiving layer of the recording material increases, so the amount of energy required to remove the solvent from the recording material may also increase. For this reason, for example, when removing almost the entire amount of the solvent adhering to the recording material having a particularly high ink droplet soaking speed, the ink droplets onto the recording material are increased so that the amount of energy applied to the recording material is increased. The amount of heat energy applied to the recording material may be determined in consideration of the soaking speed.
[0121]
In the above description, the amount of thermal energy applied to the recording material 70 (the total amount thereof) is adjusted by adjusting the amount of thermal energy per unit time applied to the recording material 70 (temperature T of hot air blown onto the recording material 70). However, instead of adjusting the amount of heat energy per unit time, the time during which heat energy is applied to the recording material (time during which hot air is blown onto the recording material) may be adjusted. The time during which the thermal energy is applied to the recording material is the distance that the recording material is transported in the section in which the thermal energy is applied (corresponding to the second section in the present embodiment), or the transport speed of the recording material in the section. It can be adjusted by changing The total amount of heat energy applied to the recording material may be adjusted by adjusting both the amount of heat energy per unit time applied to the recording material and the time during which the heat energy is applied to the recording material.
[0122]
Furthermore, in the above, the temperature T in the housing 20A_ROOMAnd humidity H_ROOMIn consideration of the volatilization amount of the solvent in the sections 1 and 3, the amount of heat energy applied to the recording material is determined in the section 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. The solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording material is removed or the solvent adhering to the recording material is removed in the section 2 where hot air is blown to the recording material 70 without considering the volatilization amount of the solvent in the section 3. The amount of thermal energy may be determined so that substantially the entire amount is removed.
[0123]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, claims 1 and 10The invention described in removing the solvent adhering to the recording medium by applying thermal energy to the recording medium,When a transparent film is not formed on the recording medium on which the image is recorded, at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium is removed before other parts of the apparatus come into contact with the image recording surface of the recording medium. When the amount of heat energy is controlled and a transparent film is formed, almost all of the attached solvent is removed before the transparent film is formed.Since the amount of heat energy is controlled,In image recording by the ink jet recording method, energy saving when selectively forming a transparent film on a recording medium and prevention of deterioration of the image quality of the recorded image can be realized., Has an excellent effect.
[0125]
  Claim2The invention described in the first aspect stores the recording droplet permeation speed of the recording medium for each type of the recording medium, detects the type of the recording medium, and adheres at least to the surface layer of the recording medium. Since the amount of thermal energy is controlled in accordance with the recording droplet penetration speed of the recording medium so that the solvent is removed, in addition to the above effects, the amount of thermal energy applied to the recording medium can be appropriately controlled. .
[0126]
  Claim3The invention described in claim 1 detects the reflectance of the recording medium or the surface temperature of the recording medium with respect to light of a predetermined wavelength in the invention described in claim 1, and adheres to at least the surface layer of the recording medium based on a change in the reflectance or the surface temperature. Since the amount of heat energy is controlled so that the solvent being removed is removed, in addition to the above effect, the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium can be appropriately controlled.
[0127]
  Claim4According to the invention described in claim 1, the amount of the solvent attached to the recording medium is detected based on the concentration of the solvent in the recording droplet and the ejection amount, and the entire amount of the attached solvent forms a transparent film. Since the amount of heat energy is controlled so as to be removed before, in addition to the above effect, the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium can be appropriately controlled.
[0128]
  Claim6The described invention is claimed.5In the described invention, the humidity of the air supplied to the recording medium by the heating means is detected, and the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium is adjusted according to the detected humidity. It has the effect that energy can be controlled more accurately.
[0129]
  Claim7In the invention described in claim 1, in the invention described in claim 1, at least one of the temperature and the humidity of the portion through which the recording medium to which the recording droplets are attached passes during a period in which no thermal energy is applied by the heating means is detected. Since the amount of heat energy applied to the medium is adjusted according to at least one of the detected temperature and humidity, in addition to the above effects, there is an effect that energy saving can be realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image recording system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet printer.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the periphery of a recording head of an inkjet printer.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mechanism for supplying ink to a recording head.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of a heat drying / film formation control process according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Inkjet printer
56 Printer control unit
58 drivers
60 recording head
61 Material type sensor
63 In-flight environment detector
64 Heating and drying section
65 Transparent film forming part
76 Blower
82 Heater
120 Temperature sensor
122 Humidity sensor
124 Temperature sensor
126 Humidity sensor
130 Coating head
132 Transparent polymer sheet
134 Laminating part
136 Secondary heating section

Claims (10)

A recording means for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting a recording droplet from a discharge port of a recording head according to an image to be recorded on the recording medium, and attaching the recording droplet to the recording medium;
A film forming means capable of forming a transparent film on a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording means;
Heating means for removing the solvent contained in the recording droplets attached to the recording medium by applying thermal energy to the recording medium to which the recording droplets are attached by the recording means;
If the transparent film is not formed by the film forming means based on the presence or absence of the transparent film formed on the recording medium on which the image is recorded, at least the recording medium before other parts of the apparatus come into contact with the image recording surface of the recording medium. The amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium is controlled by the heating means so that the solvent adhering to the surface layer is removed, and when the transparent film is formed by the film forming means, the adhering solvent A control means for controlling the amount of thermal energy so that substantially the entire amount of is removed before the formation of the transparent coating ;
An image recording apparatus. A storage means for storing the recording droplet permeation speed of the recording medium for each type of the recording medium, and a medium type detecting means for detecting the type of the recording medium on which the image is recorded by the recording means,
The control means stores the recording medium stored in the storage means so that at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium is removed based on the type of the recording medium detected by the medium type detecting means. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the thermal energy amount is controlled in accordance with a recording droplet soaking speed. A reflectance detecting means for detecting the reflectance of the recording medium with respect to the light of the predetermined wavelength or a surface temperature detecting means for detecting the surface temperature of the recording medium;
The control means removes at least the solvent adhering to the surface layer of the recording medium based on the reflectance detected by the reflectance detecting means or the change in the surface temperature of the recording medium detected by the surface temperature detecting means. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of heat energy is controlled as described above. The control means detects the amount of solvent adhering to the recording medium based on the concentration of the solvent in the recording droplet and the discharge amount of the recording droplet onto the recording medium, and the entire amount of the adhering solvent is a transparent film. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the amount of heat energy is controlled so as to be removed before forming the film. The heating means is configured to apply heat energy to the recording medium by supplying heated air to the recording medium,
The control means controls the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium by controlling at least one of the temperature of the air supplied to the recording medium by the heating means and the supply time of the heating air to the recording medium. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: Further comprising humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity of the air supplied to the recording medium by the heating means;
6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit adjusts the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium in accordance with the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit. The recording medium to which the recording droplets are attached by the recording means further comprises an environmental condition detecting means for detecting at least one of temperature and humidity of a portion that passes through a period in which no thermal energy is applied by the heating means,
6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit adjusts an amount of thermal energy applied to the recording medium according to at least one of temperature and humidity detected by the environmental state detection unit. The film forming unit can selectively form a plurality of types of film forming methods on the recording medium on which an image is recorded by the recording unit, and the control unit can form the transparent film. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the film forming means is controlled so that a transparent film is formed by a film forming method selected from among the forming methods. The film forming means includes a first film forming method and a film forming material for forming a transparent film by applying heat energy to a recording medium to which a film forming material is previously attached to melt the film forming material. A second film forming method for forming a transparent film by attaching a film forming material to a non-attached recording medium and performing a predetermined post-treatment, and forming the sheet on a recording medium to which no film forming material is attached The transparent film can be formed by two or more film forming methods of the third film forming method of forming a transparent film by sticking the formed film forming material. 8. The image recording apparatus according to 8. An image recording method for recording an image on a recording medium by ejecting a recording droplet from an ejection port of a recording head according to an image to be recorded on the recording medium, and attaching the recording droplet to the recording medium,
In removing the solvent contained in the recording droplet attached to the recording medium by applying thermal energy to the recording medium to which the recording droplet is attached,
If the transparent film is not formed based on whether or not a transparent film is formed on the recording medium on which the image is recorded, it adheres to at least the surface layer of the recording medium before other parts of the apparatus come into contact with the image recording surface of the recording medium. When the transparent film is formed by controlling the amount of heat energy applied to the recording medium by the heating means so that the solvent being removed is removed , substantially all of the attached solvent is formed before the transparent film is formed. An image recording method comprising controlling the amount of heat energy so as to be removed .

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