JP4448376B2 - Ink jet recording apparatus and recording medium conveying method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that records ink by discharging ink onto a recording medium, and a recording medium conveying method thereof.

  Inkjet recording devices are currently used in various fields because they can be lightweight and downsized and have less vibration and noise during recording, and the recording media that are to be printed are also diversifying. . Conventionally, paper has been mostly used as a recording medium, but in recent years, application to recording media other than paper has been attempted. For example, recording is performed on a cloth having a large area or recording on a stretchable fabric used for clothes or the like, as in the case of using for a curtain.

  In an inkjet recording apparatus, recording is generally performed on a recording medium along a main scanning direction by a recording head, and a recording operation is performed by conveying the recording medium by a predetermined scanning amount in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. . Therefore, if the recording medium is transported in the sub-scanning direction inaccurately, the quality of the recorded image is deteriorated. For example, if the scanning amount (conveyance amount) in the sub-scanning direction is longer than a predetermined scanning amount, a “white spot” is generated in which the image appears to be interrupted. "Or" unevenness "occurs. Accordingly, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the accuracy of transport of the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction is a factor that greatly affects the quality of the recorded image.

Various countermeasures have been proposed for these issues. For example, in Patent Document 1, the fabric is fixed to the belt conveyance surface with an adhesive to suppress the expansion and contraction of the fabric, and the rotation angle of the measuring roller accompanying the belt movement is measured to control the belt movement amount. The point is described. In Patent Document 2, the detection member that moves at the same speed as the sheet movement speed is detected by the detection member, so that the detection member and the sheet are stopped at a predetermined image forming position. It describes that an image is formed on a sheet.
JP 7-101121 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-202852

  In both of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, the power of the recording medium conveying means is provided by the conveying roller. Therefore, the fundamental cause of the structure due to the eccentricity of the conveying roller, slippage between the conveying belt and the conveying roller, or the like. However, no sufficient measures have been taken for fluctuations in the scanning amount of the recording medium. Moreover, in patent document 1, since the adhesive agent for fixing to a conveyance surface is supplied to the fabric conveyed, printing cost becomes high by that. Furthermore, the fabric needs to be made of a material that can be coated with an adhesive, and the recording medium is restricted. Although the expansion and contraction of the fabric is surely suppressed, the fundamental cause of the structure as described above has not been solved. In Patent Document 2, the member to be detected is moved by the conveyance roller in the same manner as the sheet, and the member to be detected slips at the contact portion with the conveyance roller and may not move at the same speed as the sheet. There is.

  In recent years, most of the recording media used to be paper have been diversifying, such as fabrics, resin sheets, glass plates, ceramics, metal plates, etc., and the size has been widened and lengthened. Have been doing. As a result, the size of the ink jet recording apparatus used is also increased, and problems such as distortion and deflection on the recording surface due to the weight of the recording medium, which has not been a significant problem in the past, and eccentricity and vibration of the apparatus due to an increase in the size of the roller. Has become apparent.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus and a recording medium conveying method thereof that can convey various types of long or large recording media with high accuracy and perform high-quality image recording. It is the purpose.

An inkjet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording unit that records in the main scanning direction based on an image signal by an inkjet recording head that discharges ink toward a recording medium, and the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined scanning amount. in the ink jet recording apparatus provided with conveying means for conveying, the conveying means includes at least two gripping means for gripping the support with disposed on both sides of the support for supporting the recording medium, of the gripping means At least one is moved in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined scanning amount, and the support is not gripped by the remaining gripping means in a state where the support is gripped and positioned by at least one gripping means of the gripping means. And a moving means for moving in a direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction . Further, the gripping means grips the recording medium together with the support. Further, the support is an endless belt stretched around a rotatable roller. Further, the support is a table provided to be movable at least in the sub-scanning direction.

Another ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording means for recording in a main scanning direction based on an image signal by an ink jet recording head that discharges ink toward a recording medium, and sub-scanning the recording medium by a predetermined scanning amount. in the ink jet recording apparatus provided with conveying means for conveying in a direction, said conveying means includes at least two gripping means for gripping the recording medium while being arranged on both sides of the recording medium, at least one of said gripping means Is moved in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined scanning amount , and the remaining gripping means is sub-scanned without gripping the recording medium in a state where the recording medium is gripped and positioned by at least one gripping means of the gripping means. A moving means for moving in a direction opposite to the direction is provided.

  Furthermore, in the above-described ink jet recording apparatus, the gripping means includes a clamp mechanism. Further, the moving means includes a base on which the gripping means is fixed, and a ball screw screwed into the base.

The recording medium conveying method according to the present invention records in the main scanning direction based on an image signal by an inkjet recording head that discharges ink toward a recording medium supported by a support, and the recording medium is scanned by a predetermined scanning amount. In the recording medium transport method for transporting in the sub-scanning direction, the gripping is performed in a state where the recording medium and / or the support is gripped by at least one gripping means of at least two gripping means disposed on both sides of the support. a transport operation for transporting the recording medium and / or the support by moving the unit in the sub scanning direction, positioned to grip the recording medium and / or said support by at least one of the gripping means of said gripping means the sub-scanning direction the rest of the gripping means without gripping the recording medium and / or the support in a state moved in the opposite direction back to the original position And performing a return operation alternately.

Another recording medium conveying method according to the present invention is to record in the main scanning direction based on an image signal by an ink jet recording head that discharges ink toward the recording medium, and to record the recording medium in the sub scanning direction by a predetermined scanning amount. a recording medium transporting method for transporting, wherein by moving the gripping means in the sub-scanning direction while holding the recording medium by at least one of the gripping means of the at least two gripping means arranged on opposite sides of said recording medium a transport operation of transporting the recording medium, opposite to the sub-scanning direction without gripping the recording medium and the remaining gripping means in a state of being positioned by gripping the recording medium by at least one of the gripping means of said gripping means It is characterized by alternately performing a return operation to move in the direction and return to the original position.

  The ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, so that the support supporting the recording medium is gripped by the gripping means and moved by a predetermined scanning amount by the moving means. Thus, the fluctuation of the scanning amount generated by the conveying roller does not occur. That is, when the support is grasped by the grasping means, there is no deviation between the two, and the accurate movement amount of the moving means is accurately reflected as it is as the movement amount of the support, so that the recording medium is accurate. Are conveyed by a predetermined scanning amount. Further, even when the recording medium is increased in size or weight, accurate conveyance can be performed by firmly holding the support with the holding means.

  Further, if the recording medium is held together with the support, the recording medium can be prevented from being displaced on the support by fixing the recording medium to the support. As the support, if an endless belt stretched around a rotatable roller is used, it is easy to cope with a long recording medium and is provided to be movable at least in the sub-scanning direction. By using a table, it is possible to handle heavy objects such as metal plates.

  According to another ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, since the gripping means for gripping the recording medium is moved by the moving means, for example, in the case of a high-rigidity recording medium, the recording medium is directly gripped, so that it is more accurate. Transport can be performed. Further, there is no need to provide a support that moves with the recording medium.

  Further, by using the clamp mechanism as the gripping means, it is possible to grip firmly, and as the moving means, a base having the gripping means fixed and a ball screw screwed into the base are provided. Can be performed stably.

  According to the recording medium conveyance method of the present invention, the recording medium is moved in the sub-conveying direction while the recording medium and / or the support is held by at least one of the at least two holding means. In addition, since the support is transported, the recording medium and / or the support can be accurately transported in the sub-scanning direction, and the recording medium and / or the support is supported by at least one gripping means of at least two gripping means. The remaining gripping means is moved in the direction opposite to the sub-transport direction without gripping the recording medium and / or the support in the state where the recording medium is positioned and returned to the original position. It is possible to maintain accurate positioning without causing a positional shift or the like by positioning the support. Then, by alternately performing the transport operation and the return operation, the recording medium can be continuously transported with high accuracy. Further, the same operation and effect can be achieved with another recording medium conveying method according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and thus various technical limitations are made. However, the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. Unless otherwise specified, the present invention is not limited to these forms.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention. The support 1 is composed of an endless belt that supports the recording medium 2, and is stretched by a predetermined tensile force between a pair of rollers 3 that are rotatably provided so that the recording medium 2 is held flat without slack. It is built. The recording medium 2 is long, and a predetermined range including a portion where a recording operation is performed is supported by the support 1. In addition, a pair of clamp moving devices 11 are disposed on both sides of the support 1 and the recording medium 2, and the clamp moving device 11 holds the support 1 and the recording medium 2 and performs a predetermined operation in the sub-scanning direction Y. Transport by scanning amount. Ultraviolet curable ink is ejected onto the recording medium 2 by the ink jet recording head 4, and the ultraviolet curable ink attached to the recording medium 2 is cured by being irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the ultraviolet irradiation means 5a and 5b. In this example, recording using an ultraviolet curable ink is performed, but inkjet recording using an ink other than the ultraviolet curable ink is also possible, and is not particularly limited.

  The ink jet recording head 4 is positioned and fixed on a carriage 7 supported by a guide rail 6, and the carriage 7 is driven on the recording medium 2 via a timing belt 9 by a carriage motor 8 in the main scanning direction (recording medium 1. Are reciprocated in the width direction X1, X2). In response to the image signal, the carriage 7 is moved in the main scanning direction X1 or X2, and a drive signal is input from an external drive control means (not shown) to the ink jet recording head 4 via the flexible cable 10 so that ink is recorded on the recording medium 2. It is discharged toward the surface. After the ultraviolet light is irradiated to the ink adhered to the surface of the recording medium 2 by the ultraviolet irradiation means 5a and 5b, the movement control is performed so that the recording medium 2 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the clamp moving device 11 for each scanning line.

  The ultraviolet irradiation means 5a and 5b push the inkjet recording head 4 so that ultraviolet rays are immediately irradiated immediately after the ink ejected from the inkjet recording head 4 adheres to the recording medium 2 in both the forward path X1 and the return path X2. It is fixed on the carriage 7 so as to be sandwiched in the main scanning direction. The ink ejected from the ink jet recording head 4 is quickly cured by the ultraviolet irradiation by the ultraviolet irradiation means 5b in the forward path X1 and by the ultraviolet irradiation means 5a in the backward path X2, and an image without bleeding is formed on the recording medium 2. Is done.

  The clamp moving device 11 includes a clamp mechanism 12 that holds the support 1 and the recording medium 2 and a moving mechanism 13 that moves the clamp mechanism 12 in the sub-scanning direction Y by a predetermined scanning amount. When the body 1 and the recording medium 2 are gripped and moved, the support body 1 is stretched around a rotatable roller 3 (which is a driven roller) and can be easily moved.

  When the movable mechanism 13 is moved in the sub-scanning direction Y by the movable distance, the clamp mechanism 12 is released and the support 1 and the recording medium 2 are not gripped. With the clamp mechanism 12 released, the clamp mechanism 12 is operated again by returning to the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction Y, and the support 1 and the recording medium 2 are gripped and moved by a predetermined scanning amount by the moving mechanism 13. By repeating such operations, the recording medium 2 is sequentially conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y and image recording is performed. In this example, both the support 1 and the recording medium 2 are gripped by the clamp mechanism 12, but if the width of the recording medium 2 is narrow, only the support 1 may be gripped.

  If the deflection of the support 1 made of an endless belt cannot be ignored in the scanning line recorded by the inkjet recording head 4, a belt support (for example, a support) is brought into close contact with the back of the endless belt at a position facing the scanning line. (Plate, support roller) may be installed. When the belt is brought into close contact with the belt support by suction means, the support 1 can be made more stable.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the clamp moving device 11. The clamp mechanism 12 includes a grip portion 14 formed in a U-shape and an air cylinder 15 attached to the upper surface of the grip portion 14. FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the clamp mechanism 12 as viewed from the main scanning direction X1 (FIG. 3A) and a diagram as viewed from the sub-scanning direction Y (FIG. 3B). An operation plate 16 is disposed at an upper portion in the grip portion 14, and lower ends of a plurality of rods 17 are fixed to the upper surface of the operation plate 16. The rod 17 is inserted through a through-hole formed in the upper part of the gripping part 14 so as to be movable up and down, and its upper end is fixed to a piston (not shown) in the air cylinder 15 and is moved up and down together with the piston. It is like that. Therefore, when air flows into the air cylinder 15 from the air tube, the rod 17 is pushed down and the operating plate 16 moves downward, so that the side end portions of the support 1 and the recording medium 2 are placed between the bottom surface in the grip portion 14. It comes to grip with pressure contact. Further, when the inflow of air from the air tube to the air cylinder 15 stops, the rod 17 is moved upward by an unillustrated urging spring and the operating plate 16 is also moved upward, so that the side ends of the support 1 and the recording medium 2 are moved. The pressure contact is released and no gripping is performed. A rubber sheet 18 is affixed to the lower surface of the operating plate 16 to reduce the impact when gripping the recording medium 2 and to securely grip the recording medium 2 so that no slippage occurs while gripping the recording medium 2. To do.

  The moving mechanism 13 includes a frame 19 extending along the sub-scanning direction Y, a guide rail 20 formed on the upper surface of the frame 19 so as to be parallel to the sub-scanning direction Y, and a notch formed at the bottom. A base 21 that is fitted to the guide rail 20 and is slidable parallel to the sub-scanning direction Y, and a pair of mounting plates 22 that are erected on both ends of the frame 19 in the sub-scanning direction Y are rotatably supported. The screw shaft 23 positioned so as to be parallel to the sub-scanning direction Y, the movable base 24 fixed to the upper surface of the base 20 and having a screw hole into which the screw shaft 23 is screwed, one mounting plate A motor 25 is provided which is fixed to 22 and rotationally drives the screw shaft 23. The grip 14 of the clamp mechanism 12 is fixed to the upper surface of the moving table 24.

  The motor 25 can control the rotation angle with high accuracy like a stepping motor. When the screw shaft 23 is rotated by a predetermined rotation angle by the motor 25, the moving table 24 screwed into the screw shaft 23 is screwed. The shaft 23 moves by a predetermined distance by the rotation. Since the moving table 24 is moved by the rotation of the screw shaft 23, a highly accurate moving amount can be realized. On the other hand, the moving base 24 moves integrally with the base 21, but the base 21 is moved in parallel with the sub-scanning direction Y with high accuracy by the guide rail 20. The direction is parallel to the sub-scanning direction Y with high accuracy. Since the load applied to the clamp mechanism 12 is supported together with the base 21, the movement control of the moving base 24 does not go wrong even if the recording medium 2 is heavy.

  In this way, the clamp mechanism 12 can accurately move in parallel with the sub-scanning direction Y together with the moving table 24, and the amount of movement can be set with high accuracy.

  Further, the gripping pressure at the time of gripping can be appropriately adjusted by the inflowing air pressure, the contact area of the working plate 16 or the like depending on the material of the support 1 or the recording medium 2. As the clamp mechanism 12, in addition to the air cylinder, for example, a hydraulic cylinder using hydraulic pressure or a mechanism using electromagnetic force can be used.

  Further, as the moving mechanism 13, in addition to the moving table 24 into which the screw shaft 23 is screwed, the moving table may be moved by a mechanism using a timing belt.

  FIG. 4 is a top view for explaining the conveying operation of the recording medium 2 by the clamp moving device 11. The transport operation is performed in the order from FIG. 4 (a) to FIG. 4 (e). In the figure, for convenience of explanation, the upper side is the clamp moving device 11b and the lower side is the clamp moving device 11a.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the clamp mechanism 12a of the clamp moving device 11a is located at the initial position on the upstream side in the sub-scanning direction Y of the moving range, and the clamp mechanism 12b of the clamp moving device 11b is Located in the middle of the moving range. Then, the clamp mechanism 12a is in a gripping state, and the clamp mechanism 12b is in a released state. Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the recording operation is performed by moving the clamp mechanism 12a by a predetermined scanning amount in the sub-scanning direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, when the clamp mechanism 12a reaches the final position downstream of the movement range in the sub-scanning direction Y, the clamp mechanism 12a is released and the clamp mechanism 12b is held. Then, with the clamp mechanism 12b held, as shown in FIG. 4D, a return operation is performed in which the clamp mechanism 12a is continuously moved in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction Y and returned to the initial position. Next, the clamp mechanism 12a is held, the clamp mechanism 12b is released, and the clamp mechanism 12a is moved by a predetermined scanning amount in the sub-scanning direction as shown in FIG. . By alternately repeating the transporting and returning operations as described above, the recording medium can be accurately transported continuously. That is, since the return operation of the clamp mechanism 12a is performed in a state where the recording medium is positioned by being gripped by the clamp mechanism 12b, the next conveyance can be accurately performed without causing a positional deviation of the recording medium. .

  In the ink jet recording, the recording quality is greatly deteriorated due to a slight deviation in the transport operation. Therefore, it is desirable that the installation location of the clamp moving device 11 is installed in the vicinity of the scanning line of the ink jet recording head.

  In the embodiment described above, the pair of clamp moving devices 11 are arranged on both sides of the support 1 so as to be symmetric with respect to the sub-scanning direction Y, but the number and arrangement positions of the clamp moving devices 11 are particularly limited. Not. For example, FIG. 5 shows an arrangement example of the clamp moving device 11. As shown in FIG. 5A, the clamp moving device 11 may be arranged on either side of the support 1. It can be used when the recording medium 2 is made of a material having high rigidity and there is no fear of displacement.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the pair of clamp moving devices 11 may be arranged on both sides of the support 1 so as to be shifted from the symmetrical position. An angle θ of a line connecting the center of one clamp mechanism 12 and the center of the other clamp mechanism 12 is a horizontal line from the center of one clamp mechanism 12 with respect to the paper surface as a reference line having an angle of 0 °. When using a wide endless belt having a width exceeding 1000 mm for the purpose of minimizing the difference in moving distance between the left and right ends due to the elongation of the support 1, a range of −45 ° ≦ θ ≦ 45 ° It is preferable that

  Moreover, as shown in FIG.5 (c), you may make it arrange | position four clamp moving apparatuses 11 to the both sides of the support body 1 2 each. In this case, the conveying operation is performed by the two clamp moving devices 11 on the upper surface of the paper, and the lower two clamp moving devices 11 operate to grip and fix the support 1 during the returning operation of the upper clamp moving device 11. Let Further, the two clamp moving devices 11 in the diagonal directions may perform the same operation, or may be operated in the same manner separately on the left side and the right side. Moreover, as shown in FIG.5 (d), the four clamp moving apparatuses 11 may be arrange | positioned 2 each on the both sides of the support body 1, and you may arrange | position from a symmetrical position mutually.

  In short, if at least one clamp moving device 11 that performs the transport operation is provided and at least one clamp moving device 11 positions and fixes the support 1 during the return operation of the clamp move device 11 that performs the transport operation, Accurate conveyance operation by the clamp moving device 11 can be continuously performed. Further, by increasing the number of clamp moving devices 11, the conveyance force can be increased and the load that can be supported is increased, and an accurate conveyance operation can be performed even if the recording medium 2 is heavy. Become.

  For example, even if a clamp moving device having a moving range of about 100 mm is used, as described above, a return operation is performed while positioning and fixing the recording medium, so that a conveying range that can be conveyed and moved with high accuracy is 100 mm or more. Can be expanded. In addition, by setting an appropriate number and an appropriate installation location according to the size of the recording medium 2 and the size of the area where high-precision conveyance is required, a large high size greatly exceeding the moving range of one clamp moving device 11 is set. An accurate conveyance system can be realized.

  In the above example, the support 1 is gripped and fixed by the clamp moving device 11 during the returning operation. However, since the positioning and fixing of the support 1 does not require a moving function, only the clamp mechanism is used. Can also be substituted. In addition, any means other than the clamp mechanism can be used as long as it can position and fix the support 1 and is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 6 shows a processing flow of the transport operation described above. First, the clamp mechanism 12 is set to an initial position (S101), and the clamp mechanism 12 that determines the transport clamp mechanism that performs the transport operation and the positioning clamp mechanism that positions and fixes the support 1 are determined (S102). Then, the transport clamp mechanism is set in a gripping state, and the positioning clamp mechanism is set in a released state (S103).

  Next, a recording operation is performed by the ink jet recording head, and it is checked whether recording for one scanning line is completed (S104). If it is completed, it is further checked whether the recording operation is completed (S105). When the recording operation is completed, the conveying operation is not performed and the process is terminated. If the recording operation is not completed, the support clamp mechanism is moved to transport the support 1 by a predetermined scanning amount (S106). Then, it is checked whether it has been detected whether the transport clamp mechanism has reached the final position and whether there has been a return instruction signal (S107). If there is none, the process returns to step S104 to record a new scan line. Done. If any of them is detected in step S107, the positioning clamp mechanism is in the gripping state (S108), the transport clamp mechanism is released, and the return operation is performed (S109). Then, the process returns to step S103, and the transport operation is repeated.

  FIG. 7 illustrates an arrangement relationship between the clamp moving device 11 and the carriage moving device on which the ink jet recording head 4 is mounted with respect to a large-sized ink jet recording device. In this example, six clamp moving devices 11 are arranged on both sides of the support 1 in order to record a wide and long recording medium 2. In FIG. 7A, one carriage moving device is installed between the clamp moving devices 11, and the gripping state is established between the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording head 4 in the sub-scanning direction. The recording medium 2 can be held in a stable state in the area. Also, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, two carriage moving devices can be installed to increase the recording operation speed. In the case of FIG. 7B, the two carriages move in directions opposite to each other, so that vibration accompanying the movement of the carriages can be suppressed.

  FIG. 8 illustrates the attachment relationship between the clamp moving device 11 and the carriage moving device. As shown in FIG. 8A, a support base 31 that supports both sides of the carriage moving device may be attached to the support frame 30 that supports the roller 3, or as shown in FIG. You may make it install 31 on a floor surface. When the ink jet recording apparatus is small, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy between the recording head 4 and the recording medium 2 by attaching as shown in FIG. 8A, but when the apparatus is enlarged. It is better to install them independently as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, the carriage 31 can be attached by suspending the support base 31 from the ceiling. In this case, it becomes possible to easily replace the recording medium conveying system.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the head unit 40 is a line head (full-line inkjet recording head) in which a plurality of nozzles are formed in the main scanning direction over the entire width of the image forming region intersecting the sub-scanning direction Y of the recording medium 2. The recording heads 40Y, 40M, 40C, and 40K are arranged in the sub-scanning direction Y.

  The ultraviolet irradiation lamp 50 is installed on the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction Y of the recording medium 1 so that ultraviolet rays can be irradiated immediately after the ink ejected from the head unit 40 adheres to the recording medium 2.

  A pair of clamp moving devices 11 are arranged on both sides of the support 1, respectively, and after recording in the main scanning direction by the head unit 40, the clamp moving device 11 performs the same transport operation as the above-described transport operation. Yes.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of still another embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the recording medium 2 is placed on the upper surface of a flat table 100, and the table 100 is mounted on the rail base 103 so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction Y. A guide rail 102 formed so as to be parallel to the sub-scanning direction Y is fixed at the center of the upper surface of the rail base 103, and a groove to be fitted to the guide rail 102 is formed on the lower surface of the table 100. The slide part 101 is fixed. The slide portion 101 and the guide rail 102 are processed with high accuracy so that the table 100 moves accurately in the sub-scanning direction Y. On the upper surface of the rail base 103, a pair of clamp moving devices 11 are arranged and fixed on both sides of the table 100, respectively, and the clamp mechanism 12 can hold the table 100 and move it in the sub-scanning direction Y. It is like that. Then, after recording in the main scanning direction by the recording head 4, recording can be performed on the recording medium 2 by performing a transport operation similar to the transport operation described above by the clamp moving device 11.

  In this example, recording can be performed even in the case of an inflexible material such as a glass plate. Furthermore, when the recording medium is a highly rigid material such as a steel plate, recording may be performed by holding only the recording medium as shown in FIG. In this example, the pair of clamp moving devices 11 are arranged and fixed on the support base 104. The moving direction of the clamp moving device 11 is set to exactly match the sub-scanning direction Y. The recording medium 2 is positioned and supported with respect to the recording head 4 by gripping both sides of the recording medium 2 by the clamp mechanism 12. You may provide a support body in the lower surface of the recording medium 2 as needed. Then, after recording in the main scanning direction by the recording head 4, recording can be performed on the recording medium 2 by performing a transport operation similar to the transport operation described above by the clamp moving device 11.

  In the example described above, the case where color recording is performed by a plurality of heads as the ink jet recording head is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and each CMYK color may be provided in one ink jet recording head, Depending on the color, it may be recorded in monochrome and is not particularly limited.

It is a schematic perspective view regarding embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view regarding a clamp moving device. It is a side view regarding a clamp mechanism. It is explanatory drawing regarding the conveyance operation of a clamp moving apparatus. It is a top view regarding the example of arrangement of a clamp movement device. It is a processing flow regarding conveyance operation. It is a top view regarding the example of arrangement of a clamp movement device and a carriage movement device. It is a side view regarding the example of attachment of a clamp movement apparatus and a carriage movement apparatus. It is a schematic perspective view regarding another embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view regarding another embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view regarding another embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Support body 2 Recording medium 3 Roller 4 Inkjet recording head
5a UV irradiation means
5b UV irradiation means 6 Guide rail 7 Carriage 8 Carriage motor 9 Timing belt
10 Flexible cable
11 Clamp moving device
12 Clamp mechanism
13 Movement mechanism
25 Motor

Claims (9)

Inkjet recording comprising recording means for recording in the main scanning direction based on an image signal by an inkjet recording head that discharges ink toward the recording medium, and conveying means for conveying the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined scanning amount in the apparatus, the conveying means includes at least two gripping means for gripping the support with disposed on both sides of the support for supporting the recording medium, by a predetermined amount of scanning at least one of said gripping means While moving in the sub-scanning direction and holding and positioning the support by at least one of the gripping means, the remaining gripping means is moved in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction without gripping the support. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a moving means for moving.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping unit grips the recording medium together with the support.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is an endless belt stretched around a rotatable roller.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support is a table provided to be movable at least in the sub-scanning direction. Inkjet recording comprising recording means for recording in the main scanning direction based on an image signal by an inkjet recording head that discharges ink toward the recording medium, and conveying means for conveying the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined scanning amount moving the device, the conveying means includes at least two gripping means for gripping the recording medium while being arranged on both sides of the recording medium, in the sub-scanning direction at least one by a predetermined amount of scanning of said gripping means Moving means for moving the remaining gripping means in the direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction without gripping the recording medium in a state where the recording medium is gripped and positioned by at least one gripping means of the gripping means. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising:   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping unit includes a clamp mechanism.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit includes a base on which the gripping unit is fixed, and a ball screw screwed into the base. A recording medium transport method for recording in the main scanning direction based on an image signal by an ink jet recording head that discharges ink toward a recording medium supported by a support, and transporting the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined scanning amount in, by moving the gripping means in the sub-scanning direction while holding the recording medium and / or said support by at least one of the gripping means of the at least two gripping means disposed on either side of the support the wherein the transport operation for transporting the recording medium and / or the support, the remainder of the gripping means in a state of being positioned by gripping the recording medium and / or said support by at least one of the gripping means of said gripping means recording Japanese to perform medium and / or the support without gripping the sub scanning direction is moved in the opposite direction and a return operation for returning to the original position alternately Recording medium transporting method for a. In a recording medium transporting method in which recording is performed in the main scanning direction based on an image signal by an ink jet recording head that discharges ink toward the recording medium, and the recording medium is transported in the sub-scanning direction by a predetermined scanning amount . a transport operation for transporting the recording medium by moving the gripping means in the sub-scanning direction while holding the recording medium by at least one of the gripping means of the at least two gripping means arranged on opposite sides, said gripping means at least one of the gripping means by said recording medium and sub-scanning direction the rest of the gripping means without gripping the recording medium in a state of being positioned by gripping by moving in the opposite direction based on the return back to the position operation of the Are alternately performed.

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