JP4765152B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus, and more specifically, after recording is performed by ejecting ink onto a recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing thermoplastic resin particles on a surface layer, the recording medium is heated by a heating and pressurizing unit. The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus adapted to press.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Inkjet recording, which performs image recording by ejecting ink in the form of fine droplets onto the recording surface of a recording medium, enables high image quality close to that of silver salt photography and low cost of the apparatus due to recent technological advances. It has rapidly spread.
[0003]
Inks used in such ink jet recording are roughly classified into dye inks and pigment inks. Dye inks are soluble in solvents, show high-purity and clear color development, and since they do not have particle properties, they do not generate scattered light or reflected light, so they are highly transparent and have a clear hue. When the dye molecules are destroyed by reaction or the like, there is a problem that the light resistance is poor because the decrease in the number of molecules directly affects the color density. In contrast, pigment ink is insoluble in a solvent, and dye molecules contribute to coloring in a state where particles are formed and dispersed in the solvent. Even if the surface molecules are destroyed by a photochemical reaction or the like, Since there is a new dye molecule layer, there is an advantage that an apparent decrease in coloring power is small and image storage stability is superior to dye ink.
[0004]
However, the pigment ink has a problem of poor glossiness due to the influence of scattered light and reflected light caused by the particles. Therefore, for the purpose of imparting gloss to the surface of a recording medium on which an image is recorded and formed using a pigment ink containing a dispersant, and further preventing blur due to contact with water of the image and improving the scratch resistance, An image is recorded and formed using a recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing thermoplastic resin particles (on the image recording surface side) and a pigment ink solvent absorption layer adjacent to the inside of the ink receiving layer, and then the recording medium is heated. A technique for melting and smoothing the thermoplastic resin particles in the ink receiving layer by applying pressure to make the ink receiving layer transparent has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-164386).
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a technique, a recording medium on which an image is recorded and formed by a recording head is conveyed to a heating and pressing unit by a conveying unit to make the ink receiving layer transparent, and is heated and pressurized to make the ink receiving layer transparent. However, in order to produce a high-quality image print, it is desirable to appropriately make the ink receiving layer transparent.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to heat and press a recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing thermoplastic resin particles on the surface layer and a pigment ink solvent absorbing layer adjacent to the inside of the ink receiving layer to form the ink receiving layer. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of appropriately making the transparency when making the transparency and creating a high-quality image print.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention is achieved by the following inventions.
[0042]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, recording is performed by ejecting ink onto a recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing thermoplastic resin particles on the surface layer and a pigment ink solvent absorbing layer adjacent to the inside of the ink receiving layer. A recording head that performs heating, a heating and pressing unit that heats and pressurizes the recording medium to make the ink receiving layer of the recording medium transparent, and a temperature control unit that maintains the temperature of the heating and pressing unit in a predetermined temperature range; Recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium recorded by the recording head to the heating and pressurizing means, and when recording is not performed for a certain period of time, temperature control by the temperature control means is stopped. An ink jet recording apparatus that stops heat generation by the heating and pressurizing means or maintains the second temperature range lower than the predetermined temperature range, The recording head is configured to perform reciprocal scanning along a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium to perform recording; After the heating and pressurizing means stops heating or returns from the second temperature range, the heating and pressurizing time is relatively set until the heating and pressurizing means reaches the predetermined temperature range above the minimum processing temperature. Make the recording medium heat-pressed for a longer time At the same time, the recording time per unit length in the recording medium conveyance direction is relatively increased by adjusting the stop time when the moving direction of the recording head is reversed. This is an ink jet recording apparatus.
[0043]
As a result, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed and power consumption can be saved.
[0045]
In addition, when recording is not performed for a certain period of time, when the heating and pressurizing means is held in a second temperature range lower than the predetermined temperature range, As a result, power consumption can be saved and the heating and pressurizing means can be quickly heated at the start of the heating and pressing process, so that the heating and pressing process can be resumed in a short time.
[0049]
Also, As a result, there is no need to wait until the heating and pressurizing means reaches the predetermined temperature range, the heating and pressing process can be started at an early stage, and the speed of image print creation can be increased accordingly.
[0051]
Also, As a result, the recording speed of the image by the recording head and the heating / pressurizing processing speed of the recording medium by the heating / pressurizing means can be made substantially the same, and the recording has been completed between the recording head and the heating / pressurizing means. There is no need to provide special recording medium storage means for waiting the recording medium.
[0053]
Also, As a result, the drive frequency and scan speed of the printhead can be kept constant without any change, the ink ejection characteristics of the printhead can be stabilized, and the printhead drive circuit and scan drive system can be simplified. Can do.
[0056]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
[0057]
As shown in FIG. 26, the recording medium mainly used in the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has an ink receiving layer 1B containing thermoplastic resin particles on the surface layer of a support 1A, and is adjacent to the ink receiving layer 1B. Thus, the pigment ink solvent absorbing layer 1C having a void layer in which the ink solvent component is absorbed after the color material and the ink solvent component are separated on the surface of the ink receiving layer 1B is configured.
[0058]
As the support 1A, a support conventionally used as an inkjet recording medium can be used. For example, in addition to a paper support such as plain paper, art paper, coated paper and cast coated paper, plastic support And a paper support coated with polyolefin on both sides, and a composite support obtained by bonding them together can be used.
[0059]
Examples of the thermoplastic resin particles contained in the ink receiving layer 1B include polycarbonate, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrene, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyester, polyamide, poly Examples include ethers, copolymers thereof, and salts thereof. The thermoplastic resin particles are appropriately selected in consideration of ink acceptability, glossiness of an image after fixing by heating and pressing, image fastness, and releasability.
[0060]
Regarding the ink receptivity, when the particle diameter of the thermoplastic resin particles is less than 0.05 μm, the separation of the pigment particles and the ink solvent in the pigment ink is delayed, resulting in a decrease in the ink absorption rate. On the other hand, when the thickness exceeds 10 μm, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of adhesion to the pigment ink solvent absorbing layer 1C adjacent to the ink receiving layer 1B when coating on the support and the film strength of the recording medium after coating and drying. For this reason, the preferable thermoplastic resin particle diameter is preferably 0.05 to 10 μm, more preferably 0.1 to 5 μm.
[0061]
The thermoplastic resin particles forming the outermost layer exist in a dispersed state in a solvent such as water before coating and drying. In the case of a single thermoplastic resin particle having no dispersion in the dispersed particle size, the particles are packed in a close-packed hexagonal form by drying after coating to form a single particle layer, and the porosity at that time is about 26%. It is. However, the thermoplastic resin particles are usually polydispersed, and the porosity thereof varies depending on the aggregation state of the thermoplastic resin particles. In addition, the formed void diameter depends on the particle diameter of the thermoplastic resin particles.
[0062]
Moreover, as a coating film thickness on 1 A of support bodies, 0.1-10 micrometers is preferable, More preferably, it is 0.5-7 micrometers.
[0063]
As a criterion for selection of the thermoplastic resin particles, there is a glass transition point (Tg). When Tg is lower than the coating / drying temperature, for example, the coating / drying temperature at the time of production of the recording medium is already higher than Tg, and voids due to the thermoplastic fine particles for allowing the ink solvent to pass through disappear. If Tg is equal to or higher than the temperature at which the support 1A is denatured by heat, a fixing operation at a high temperature is required to perform melt film formation after ink jet recording with pigment ink, and the load on the apparatus and the heat of the support 1A Stability, etc. becomes a problem. A preferable Tg of the thermoplastic resin particles is 50 to 150 ° C. In the temperature control in the heating and pressurizing means of the ink jet recording apparatus as described later, this Tg is set as a target temperature range.
[0064]
After the image formation, the recorded image needs to suppress image quality deterioration due to its storage over time as much as possible. When pigment ink is used, there is no need to worry about density reduction and discoloration in a relatively short period of time, as with dye ink, but it is possible to suppress yellowing (decomposition) of unprinted parts by UV light. Therefore, it is necessary to select thermoplastic resin particles.
[0065]
The pigment ink solvent absorption layer 1C adjacent to the outermost ink receiving layer 1B needs to have the ability to absorb pigment ink solvent. This is because inorganic solid fine particles (hereinafter also simply referred to as inorganic fine particles) It is exhibited by containing it in the solvent absorption layer.
[0066]
Examples of the inorganic fine particles used for the above purpose include light calcium carbonate, heavy calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, clay, talc, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc hydroxide, zinc sulfide. , Zinc carbonate, hydrotalcite, aluminum silicate, diatomaceous earth, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, synthetic amorphous silica, colloidal silica, alumina, colloidal alumina, pseudoboehmite, aluminum hydroxide, lithopone, zeolite, magnesium hydroxide, etc. Examples thereof include white inorganic pigments.
[0067]
The average particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is the simple average value obtained by observing the fine particles themselves or the fine particles appearing on the cross section or surface of the void-type pigment ink solvent absorption layer with an electron microscope and determining the average particle diameter of 100 arbitrary particles. It is calculated as (number average). Here, the particle size of each fine particle is represented by a diameter assuming a circle equal to the projected area.
[0068]
From the viewpoint of forming a high density image, recording a clear image, and producing at low cost, the inorganic solid fine particles include fine particle silica, colloidal silica and alumina or alumina water synthesized by a vapor phase method. It is preferable to use inorganic solid fine particles selected from Japanese. Alumina or alumina hydrate may be crystalline or non-crystalline, and those having any shape such as amorphous particles, spherical particles, and acicular particles can be used. At present, fine particle silica synthesized by such a gas phase method is commercially available, and commercially available fine particle silica includes various types of Aerosil manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.
[0069]
Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular in the average particle diameter of an inorganic fine particle, 100 nm or less is preferable and the most preferable average particle diameter for forming a space | gap layer changes with compounds. For example, in the case of the above-mentioned vapor phase method silica, the one having the average particle size of primary particles of inorganic fine particles dispersed in the state of primary particles (particle size in the dispersion state before coating) is 4 to 20 nm is the most. It can be preferably used.
[0070]
As the pigment ink solvent absorbing layer 1C, in addition to using the above-mentioned inorganic fine particles, various hydrophilic resins and silicas described in, for example, JP-A Nos. 59-148583, 55-51583, 58-72495, etc. And a urethane resin emulsion containing an alkylene oxide or polycarbonate described in JP-A-9-150574 and JP-A-10-181189 can also be used.
[0071]
In addition to forming a pigment ink solvent absorption layer using the inorganic fine particles, a coating comprising a polyurethane resin emulsion, a water-soluble epoxy compound and / or acetoacetylated polyvinyl alcohol, and an epichlorohydrin polyamide resin. The pigment ink solvent absorption layer 1 </ b> C may be formed using a working liquid.
[0072]
The polyurethane resin emulsion in this case is preferably a polyurethane resin emulsion having a polycarbonate chain, a polycarbonate chain and a polyester chain and a particle diameter of 3.0 μm, and the polyurethane resin of the polyurethane resin emulsion is a polyol having a polycarbonate polyol, a polycarbonate polyol and a polyester polyol. And the polyurethane resin obtained by reacting the aliphatic isocyanate compound with a sulfonic acid group in the molecule, and further having an epichlorohydrin polyamide resin and a water-soluble epoxy compound and / or an acetoacetylated vinyl alcohol. preferable.
[0073]
In the pigment ink solvent absorption layer 1C using the polyurethane resin, it is estimated that weak aggregation of cations and anions is formed, and accordingly, voids having the ability to absorb the pigment ink solvent are formed, so that an image can be formed.
[0074]
In the ink receiving layer 1B and the pigment ink solvent absorption layer 1C of the recording medium 1, the total amount of voids (void volume) is 1 m of recording paper. ² It is preferably 20 ml or more per unit. The void volume is 20ml / m ² Less than 1 ml / m at the time of printing ² In the case of the following, the ink absorption is good, but the ink amount is 40 ml / m ² If it exceeds, the ink is not completely absorbed, and problems such as deterioration in image quality and slow drying are likely to occur.
[0075]
The upper limit of the void volume is not particularly limited, but it is necessary to make the film thickness of the void-type ink absorbing layer usually 50 μm or less so as not to deteriorate the physical properties of the coating such as cracks. 40 ml / m ² It is difficult to do this. The void volume is determined according to J.H. TAPPI paper pulp test method no. Liquid transfer amount (ml / m) at an absorption time of 2 seconds when measured by the liquid absorbency test method (Bristow method) of 51-87 paper or paperboard ² ). In the above measurement method, pure water (ion-exchanged water) is used for the measurement. However, in order to easily determine the measurement area, a water-soluble dye of less than 2% may be contained.
[0076]
When applying the recording medium, a thickener may be used to improve the coating property. As a coating method, in addition to a bar coater, a roll coater, an applicator, a spinner and the like, in the case where two or more layers are simultaneously coated from the viewpoint of improving production efficiency, extrusion coating and curtain coating are particularly effective.
[0077]
Examples of the silicon emulsion or water-soluble silicon compound preferably contained in the ink receiving layer 1B include, for example, a dimethylsiloxane compound having a functional group of siloxane as methyl and a general release agent, and a vinyl group, hydrogen as a substituent on the compound. Examples thereof include compounds into which atoms, mercapto groups, methacryl groups, acrylic groups, amino groups, phenyl groups and the like are introduced. Further, the content is preferably less than 1% by mass with respect to the thermoplastic resin particles 100. When the addition amount is 1% or more, the releasability is improved, but color unevenness estimated to be caused by nonuniformity of fixing due to heating and pressurization is not preferable.
[0078]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.
[0079]
The recording medium 1 is supplied by a supply means (not shown), conveyed to the right in the figure by a recording medium conveying means (hereinafter simply referred to as a conveying means) 2, and recorded by a recording head 3 disposed on the downstream side of the conveying means 2. A predetermined image is recorded and formed on the recording surface of the medium 1.
[0080]
In the illustrated example, the recording medium 1 is an example using a long roll paper wound in a roll shape. However, the recording medium 1 is not limited thereto, and is a sheet-shaped recording medium appropriately cut into a size. Also good.
[0081]
The transport unit 2 includes a transport roller 21 that is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown), and a driven roller 22 that sandwiches the recording medium 1 between the transport roller 21. In a state of being sandwiched between the transport roller 21 and the driven roller 22, the transport roller 21 is rotationally driven so as to transport a predetermined amount in the right direction (sub-scanning direction) in the figure according to image recording by the recording head 3 to be described later. It has become.
[0082]
The recording head 3 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveying unit 2 and is movably attached to a scanning guide 31 that is installed across the width of the recording medium 1 so as to be substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium 1. The reciprocating scanning type recording head is configured to be capable of main scanning movement along the scanning guide 31 by a driving means that does not.
[0083]
The recording head 3 includes a plurality of ink tanks in which pigment inks of respective colors such as Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) are stored. The ink is ejected at a predetermined timing in accordance with the image data while moving along the main scan along the recording surface of the recording medium 1 in cooperation with the conveyance of the recording medium 1 by the conveying means 2. A predetermined image is recorded and formed.
[0084]
Conventionally known organic and inorganic pigments can be used as the pigment ink. For example, azo pigments such as azo lakes, insoluble azo pigments, condensed azo pigments, chelate azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, perylene pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinacridone pigments, dioxazine pigments, thioindigo pigments, isoindolinone pigments, quinophthalone pigments, etc. And dye lakes such as basic dye type lakes and acid dye type lakes, organic pigments such as nitro pigments, nitroso pigments, aniline black and daylight fluorescent pigments, and inorganic pigments such as carbon black.
[0085]
Specific organic pigments are exemplified below.
[0086]
Examples of pigments for magenta or red include C.I. I. Pigment red 2, C.I. I. Pigment red 3, C.I. I. Pigment red 5, C.I. I. Pigment red 6, C.I. I. Pigment red 7, C.I. I. Pigment red 15, C.I. I. Pigment red 16, C.I. I. Pigment red 48: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 53: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 57: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 122, C.I. I. Pigment red 123, C.I. I. Pigment red 139, C.I. I. Pigment red 144, C.I. I. Pigment red 149, C.I. I. Pigment red 166, C.I. I. Pigment red 177, C.I. I. Pigment red 178, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Red 222.
[0087]
Examples of the orange or yellow pigment include C.I. I. Pigment orange 31, C.I. I. Pigment orange 43, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 12, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 13, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 14, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 15, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 17, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 93, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 94, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Yellow 138.
[0088]
Examples of pigments for green or cyan include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 2, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment blue 16, C.I. I. Pigment blue 60, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Green 7.
[0089]
A recording medium holding unit 32 is disposed on the opposite side of the recording head 3 with the recording medium 1 interposed therebetween. The recording medium 1 is sucked and held on the surface of the recording medium 1 by suction means (not shown). When the recording head 3 records and forms an image, the recording medium 1 is prevented from floating.
[0090]
The heating and pressurizing unit 4 is disposed on the downstream side of the recording head 3 so as to heat and press the recording medium 1 after the image is recorded and formed by the recording head 3, and the heating roller 41 and the recording medium 1 are connected. The pressure roller 42 is sandwiched between the heating roller 41 and the heat roller 41.
[0091]
As shown in FIG. 2, the heating roller 41 is formed of a hollow roller, and includes a heating element 43 such as a halogen lamp heater as a heat source along the axial direction. The heating roller 41 is heated by the heat of the heating element 43. 41 is heated to melt the thermoplastic resin particles contained in the ink receiving layer of the recording medium 1. A gear 412 is formed on the peripheral edge of the heating roller 41, and a driving force of the driving motor 44 is transmitted by meshing with a gear 441 attached to the driving motor 44, and is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction. Reference numeral 411 denotes a bearing.
[0092]
The heating roller 41 is preferably formed of a material having a high thermal conductivity so that the recording medium 1 can be efficiently heated by the heat generated from the heating element 43, and a metal roller is preferably used. The surface is preferably coated with a fluororesin to prevent contamination by ink when the recording medium 1 is heated and pressurized. In addition, a silicon rubber roller coated with heat-resistant silicon rubber can be used.
[0093]
A temperature sensor 5 is disposed in the vicinity of the surface of the heating roller 41. By detecting the temperature of the heating roller 41 with the temperature sensor 5, the amount of heat generated by the heating element 43 is controlled by temperature control means (not shown), Control is performed so that the temperature of the heating roller 41 is maintained within a predetermined temperature range.
[0094]
The pressure roller 42 is made of a metal roller such as stainless steel having an elastic rubber coating 42a on its outer periphery. As shown in FIG. 3, the roller shafts 42b at both ends thereof are attached to and supported by the support frame 422 via bearings 421, respectively. Has been. The support frame 422 is pressed against the heating roller 41 with a predetermined pressure so that the pressing roller 42 can press the recording medium 1 against the heating roller 41. The biasing members 45 and 45 are biased. In the illustrated example, the urging members 45, 45 urge the pressure roller 42 toward the heating roller 41, but the pressure roller 42 may be urged toward the heating roller 41. Good. Further, as the urging members 45, 45, a coil spring, a leaf spring, or the like can be arbitrarily used as long as it can urge the pressure roller 42 toward the heating roller 41 with a predetermined elastic force.
[0095]
The recording medium 1 on which a predetermined image is recorded and formed by the recording head 3 is conveyed to the heating and pressing unit 4 by the conveying unit 2. In the heating and pressing unit 4, the recording medium 1 is sandwiched between the heating roller 41 and the pressure roller 42 and conveyed at a predetermined speed by the rotational driving of the heating roller 41, and the recording medium 1 is heated and pressed in the process. Then, the thermoplastic resin particles in the surface ink receiving layer are melted and smoothed to be transparent.
[0096]
In the present invention, the heating and pressing time of the recording medium 1 by the heating and pressing means 4 is 0.1 to 2 seconds. When the heating and pressing time of the recording medium 1 is within this range, a heating and pressing process necessary and sufficient for the ink receiving layer of the recording medium 1 to be transparent can be performed, which is effective for producing a high-quality image print. . The heating and pressing time by the heating and pressing means 4 can be set to the above range by appropriately adjusting the number of rotations of the heating roller 41.
[0097]
In the present invention, the pressure roller 42 has a rubber coating 42a having elasticity on the surface (recording medium contact surface), so that the nip region formed between the roller 41 and the heating roller 41 has a certain width. Formed. The longitudinal elastic modulus (Young's modulus) of the rubber coating 42a, which is the recording medium contact surface of the pressure roller 42 at this time, is 10 ⁶ -10 ⁷ Pa, preferably 1.0 × 10 ⁶ ~ 4.0 × 10 ⁶ By setting it to Pa, the heating roller 41 and the pressure roller 42 can be brought into pressure contact with a large contact area, and an appropriate pressure and pressure time can be obtained with a simple configuration.
[0098]
In addition, instead of the pressure roller 42, the outer periphery of the heating roller 41 may be covered with heat-resistant silicone rubber or the like so as to have a longitudinal elastic modulus (Young's modulus) in the above range, or the heating roller 41 and the pressure roller 42. Both may have a longitudinal elastic modulus (Young's modulus) in the above range. In short, it is sufficient that at least one recording medium contact surface of the two rollers 41 and 42 is configured to have a longitudinal elastic modulus (Young's modulus) in the above range.
[0099]
In the present invention, when the heating and pressing time of the recording medium 1 is changed according to the type of the recording medium 1, optimum heating and pressing processes can be performed on various recording media 1. This is effective for creating high-quality image prints.
[0100]
Here, the type of recording medium refers to the type of material of the support of the recording medium, the type of thickness of the support, the type of thermoplastic resin particles contained in the ink receiving layer of the recording medium, and the surface of the recording medium. Examples include quality (silk texture, gloss, etc.).
[0101]
Furthermore, in the present invention, the holding temperature range of the heating and pressing means 4 may be changed according to the type of the recording medium 1. This makes it possible to perform processing, and is effective in creating high-quality image prints.
[0102]
4 and 5 show another embodiment of the heating and pressurizing means 4.
[0103]
4A, the heating roller 41 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but instead of the configuration of the pressure roller 42 for pressing the recording medium 1 with the heating roller 41, the heating roller 41 and a belt member 47 suspended between two rollers 46a and 46b facing each other with the recording medium 1 interposed therebetween.
[0104]
In this embodiment, the belt member 47 is suspended between the rollers 46a and 46b with a predetermined tension, and the belt member 47 is brought into pressure contact with the heating roller 41 so that the recording medium 1 is interposed therebetween. Is pressed at the same time as being held, and is conveyed in the right direction in the figure by the rotational drive of the heating roller 41.
[0105]
As a material of the belt member 47, a metal member such as stainless steel or an elastic member such as silicon rubber can be used.
[0106]
According to this aspect, since the heating roller 41 and the belt member 47 are in surface contact with each other, it is possible to obtain an appropriate pressure and pressurizing time even during high-speed processing. Further, by adjusting the arrangement of the rollers 46 a and 46 b and the tension of the belt member 47, the contact area and the pressing force between the heating roller 41 and the belt member 47 can be easily adjusted.
[0107]
4B, the pressure roller 42 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the belt member 47 is used in place of the heating roller 41. In FIG. The heating element 43 is arranged inside the belt member 47 so as to directly heat the belt member 47. However, the rollers 46a and 46b for suspending the belt member 47 are made hollow, and the rollers 46a and 46b are connected to the rollers 46a and 46b. A heat generating body 43 may be incorporated to heat the rollers 46a and 46b.
[0108]
The number of rollers on which the belt member 47 is suspended is not limited to two, and may be three or more.
[0109]
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the heating and pressurizing means 4 is constituted by two belt members 47a and 47b facing each other with the recording medium 1 interposed therebetween and a roller group (46c to 46g) for suspending the belt members 47a and 47b. Is shown.
[0110]
The belt member 47a is suspended between the two rollers 46c and 46d with a predetermined tension, and the heating element 43 is disposed inside thereof. The belt member 47a is heated by the heating element 43.
[0111]
On the other hand, the belt member 47b is disposed so as to face the belt member 47a with the recording medium 1 interposed therebetween, and is suspended with a predetermined tension across the three rollers 46e, 46f, and 46g. The rollers 46c and 46d are located between the rollers 46e and 46f and between the rollers 46f and 46g, respectively.
[0112]
In this embodiment, the recording medium 1 is sandwiched between the belt members 47a and 47b, and is conveyed in the right direction in the drawing when the roller 46c or 46d is rotationally driven by the driving means (not shown) and the belt member 47a is driven counterclockwise. Is done. The belt members 47a and 47b are in pressure contact with each other, and the recording medium 1 is heated and pressurized while being heated while being sandwiched between the belt members 47a and 47b. .
[0113]
Also according to this aspect, since the belt members 47a and 47b are in surface contact with each other, it is possible to obtain appropriate pressurizing force and pressurizing time especially during high-speed processing. Further, by adjusting the arrangement of the rollers 46c to 46g and the tension of the belt members 47a and 47b, the contact area and the pressure force of the belt members 47a and 47b can be easily adjusted. Furthermore, by changing the arrangement of the rollers 46c to 46g, the degree of freedom of design related to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 1 becomes higher than that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and FIG. There is also an advantage that it is advantageous for improvement.
[0114]
In the present invention, the pressure applied to the recording medium 1 by the heating and pressing means 4 is 9.8 × 10 6. ^Four ~ 4.9 × 10 ⁶ Pa is preferred. Even if the applied pressure deviates above or below the above range, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient applied pressure necessary to satisfactorily make the ink receiving layer of the recording medium 1 transparent. The applied pressure can be measured by pressing the pressure-sensitive heating means 4 with pressure-sensitive paper interposed therebetween and converting the pressure from the degree of color development of the pressure-sensitive paper.
[0115]
6 and 7 show the configuration of the cleaning unit 6 for cleaning the recording medium contact surface of the heating and pressing unit 4.
[0116]
FIG. 6 shows an example in which a cleaning roller 61 is provided on the recording medium contact surface on the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 41 of the heating and pressing means 4.
[0117]
The cleaning roller 61 is a sponge roller configured by surrounding a sponge on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft, and extends in parallel with the heating roller 41 and is detachably disposed. The cleaning roller 61 normally does not rotate, but has its sponge surface abutted against the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41. When the heating roller 41 is driven to rotate, the sponge surface rubs against the recording medium contact surface. Then, the dirt on the recording medium contact surface is wiped off.
[0118]
The cleaning roller 61 is provided with a rotation driving means (not shown). For example, when the number of processed sheets of the recording medium 1 reaches a certain processing amount, the cleaning roller 61 is driven and controlled to rotate by a predetermined angle (for example, 5 °). The recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41 can be cleaned with the new surface. When the surface of the cleaning roller 61 is completely soiled by rotating a predetermined amount, it is removed and replaced with a new sponge surface or a new cleaning roller 61.
[0119]
FIG. 7 shows an example in which a cleaning belt 62 is provided on the recording medium contact surface on the outer peripheral surface of the heating roller 41 of the heating and pressing means 4.
[0120]
The cleaning belt 62 is formed of a non-woven fabric or the like so as to have at least the same width as the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41, spans between the two winding rollers 62 a and 62 b, and is fed out from one of the rollers 62 a or 62 b. The other roller 62b or 62a can be wound up by a rotation driving means (not shown).
[0121]
The cleaning belt 62 is disposed so as to contact the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41 in a state of being stretched between the two winding rollers 62a and 62b. Usually, the two winding rollers 62a and 62b are rotated. Instead, the heating roller 41 is rotationally driven to rub the recording medium contact surface and wipe off the dirt on the recording medium contact surface. For example, when the number of processed sheets of the recording medium 1 reaches a certain processing amount, the winding roller 62a or 62b is driven and controlled to rotate by a predetermined amount, and the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41 is cleaned with a new surface of the cleaning belt 62. It has come to be able to do. When all the cleaning belt 62 is wound up, it is removed and replaced with a new one.
[0122]
Thus, by providing the heating and pressurizing unit 4 with the cleaning unit 6, it is possible to prevent the contact surface with the recording medium 1 from becoming dirty and contaminating the image of the recording medium 1 or reducing the heating and pressing performance. In addition, the ink receiving layer of the recording medium 1 can always be made transparent with good quality.
[0123]
8 to 10 show the configuration of the transfer preventing liquid applying means.
[0124]
The transfer preventing liquid applying means 7 shown in these figures is recorded from a part of the recording medium 1 (for example, thermoplastic resin particles contained in the ink receiving layer) or the recording head 3 on the recording medium contact surface of the heating and pressing means 4. A transfer preventing liquid for preventing the ink applied to the surface of the medium 1 from being transferred is applied to the recording medium contact surface.
[0125]
The transfer preventing liquid preferably contains silicone oil. Silicone oil is an inexpensive but stable material, and can reliably prevent contamination of the recording medium contact surface.
[0126]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a coating roller 71 made of a sponge roller impregnated with a transfer preventing liquid is disposed so as to contact the outer peripheral surface, which is the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41, and coating is performed by rotating the heating roller 41. The transfer preventing liquid impregnated in the roller 71 is applied to the recording medium contact surface. The application roller 71 is provided with a rotation driving means (not shown). For example, the application roller 71 can be rotated by a predetermined angle every time the number of processed sheets reaches a fixed amount, and the transfer roller 71 can be applied with a new surface. Yes. The application roller 71 is configured to be detachable, and is replaced with a new one when the impregnated transfer preventing liquid is exhausted.
[0127]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, an application belt 72 made of a nonwoven fabric or the like stretched between two winding rollers 72 a and 72 b is impregnated with a transfer preventing liquid, and the application belt 72 is applied to the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41. The transfer prevention liquid impregnated in the coating belt 72 is applied to the recording medium contact surface by rotating the heating roller 41 in contact therewith. The take-up roller 72a or 72b is provided with a rotation drive means (not shown), for example, by rotating a predetermined amount every time the number of processed sheets reaches a predetermined amount, and winding the region where the transfer preventing liquid has been applied. The transfer preventing liquid can be applied on the new surface of the application belt 72. When the winding of the coating belt 72 is completed, it is replaced with a new one.
[0128]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a transfer pad 73 made of a nonwoven fabric impregnated with a transfer preventing liquid is brought into contact with the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41, and the transfer pad 73 is impregnated by the rotational driving of the heating roller 41. The prevention liquid is applied to the recording medium contact surface. The coating pad 73 is configured to be detachable, and is replaced with a new one when the impregnated transfer preventing liquid is exhausted.
[0129]
Thus, by providing the transfer prevention liquid applying means 7 for applying the transfer prevention liquid to the recording medium contact surface of the heating and pressing means 4, a part of the recording medium 1 on the recording medium contact surface of the heating and pressing means 4 or The ink is prevented from being transferred, the image on the recording medium can be prevented from being contaminated, and the heating and pressurizing performance can be prevented from being lowered, and the ink receiving layer of the recording medium 1 can be always made transparent with good quality. It is.
[0130]
FIG. 11 shows still another embodiment of the transfer preventing liquid applying unit 7.
[0131]
The transfer preventing liquid applying means 7 shown in this embodiment is arranged not on the recording medium contact surface of the heating and pressurizing means 4 but on the downstream side of the recording head 3 and the upstream side of the heating and pressurizing means 4. An anti-transfer solution is applied to the recording medium 1 after recording and before the heat and pressure treatment by the heat and pressure means 4.
[0132]
The transfer preventing liquid is impregnated in the same application pad 74 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, and is applied so as to come into contact with the recording surface of the recording medium 1 after the image is recorded and formed by the recording head 3. It is in contact with the surface of the roller 75. As a result, the transfer preventing liquid impregnated in the application pad 74 is applied to the recording surface of the recording medium 1 via the application roller 75.
[0133]
In this manner, even when the transfer preventing liquid applying unit 7 is applied to the recording medium 1 after image recording by the recording head and before the heating and pressurizing process by the heating and pressurizing unit 4, similarly to the above, heating and pressing It is possible to prevent a part of the recording medium 1 or the ink from being transferred to the recording medium contact surface of the means 4, and to prevent the image of the recording medium from being contaminated and the heating and pressing performance from being deteriorated. This is effective to always make the ink receiving layer of the medium 1 transparent with good quality.
[0134]
In FIG. 11, the case where the application pad 74 is impregnated with the transfer prevention liquid has been described. However, the transfer prevention liquid is impregnated into the application roller 71 including the sponge roller shown in FIG. 8 or the application belt 72 shown in FIG. The application roller 71 or the application belt 72 may be applied through the application roller 75 as shown in FIG. 11 or directly in contact with the recording medium 1.
[0135]
12 to 14 show the configuration of the gloss liquid applying means.
[0136]
The gloss liquid applying means 8 shown in these figures applies a gloss liquid for applying gloss to the surface of the recording medium 1 to the recording medium contact surface of the heating and pressurizing means 4. Yes.
[0137]
The glossy liquid preferably contains silicon oil. Silicon oil is an inexpensive and stable material, and can reliably give gloss to the surface of the recording medium 1.
[0138]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a coating roller 81 made of a sponge roller impregnated with a glossy liquid is disposed so as to contact the outer peripheral surface, which is the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41, and the coating roller is driven by the rotation of the heating roller 41. The gloss liquid impregnated in 81 is applied to the recording medium contact surface. The application roller 81 is provided with a rotation driving means (not shown) so that, for example, the application roller 81 can be rotated by a predetermined angle every time the number of processed sheets reaches a predetermined amount, so that the gloss liquid can be applied on a new surface of the application roller 81. . The application roller 81 is configured to be detachable, and is replaced with a new one when the impregnated glossy liquid disappears.
[0139]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a glossy liquid is impregnated into a coating belt 82 made of a nonwoven fabric or the like that is stretched between two winding rollers 82 a and 82 b, and the coating belt 82 contacts the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41. The glossy liquid impregnated in the application belt 82 is applied to the recording medium contact surface by rotating the heating roller 41 in contact therewith. The take-up roller 82a or 82b is provided with a rotation driving means (not shown), and for example, every time the number of processed sheets reaches a certain amount, the take-up roller 82a or 82b is rotated by a predetermined amount to take up the region where the gloss liquid has been applied. The gloss liquid can be applied to the new surface of the application belt 82. When the winding of the coating belt 82 is completed, it is replaced with a new one.
[0140]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the coating pad 83 made of a nonwoven fabric impregnated with a glossy liquid is brought into contact with the recording medium contact surface of the heating roller 41, and the glossing liquid impregnated in the coating pad 83 by the rotational driving of the heating roller 41. Is applied to the recording medium contact surface. The application pad 83 is configured to be detachable, and is replaced with a new one when the impregnated glossy liquid disappears.
[0141]
By providing the gloss liquid applying means 8 for applying the gloss liquid to the recording medium contact surface of the heating and pressurizing means 4 in this way, in addition to making the surface of the recording medium 1 transparent, a further gloss can be provided. A high-quality image print can be created.
[0142]
FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of the gloss liquid applying means 8.
[0143]
The gloss liquid applying means 8 shown in this embodiment applies the gloss liquid to the recording medium 1 after the image is recorded and formed by the recording head 3 instead of the recording medium contact surface of the heating and pressurizing means 4. It has become. FIG. 15A shows an embodiment in which the glossy liquid is applied to the recording medium 1 before the heating and pressurizing process by the heating and pressurizing means 4, and FIG. A mode of applying after the pressurizing process is shown, and any mode may be used as long as the gloss liquid can be applied to the recording medium 1 after the recording head 3 records and forms an image.
[0144]
The gloss liquid is impregnated in an application pad 84 similar to the application pad 83 shown in FIG. 14 and can be applied to the recording surface of the recording medium 1 via the application roller 85 in contact with the application pad 84. It has become.
[0145]
In this way, even when the gloss liquid applying means 8 is applied to the recording medium 1 after the image is recorded by the recording head, in addition to making the surface of the recording medium 1 transparent, a further gloss is applied. And a higher quality image print can be created.
[0146]
The gloss liquid applying means 8 is configured such that the whole including the application pad 84 and the application roller 85 can be moved toward and away from the recording medium 1 as shown in FIGS. Thus, it is also preferable to have means for automatically selecting whether or not to apply the glossy liquid according to the type of the recording medium 1 described above.
[0147]
As a means for discriminating the type of the recording medium 1, as shown in FIG. 17, a type code 11 such as a barcode in which the type information is recorded is provided in advance on the back surface (side opposite to the recording surface) of the recording medium 1. At the same time, a recording medium type discrimination sensor 9 is disposed upstream of the glossy liquid applying means 8, for example, upstream of the recording head 3 as shown in FIG. 15, and the type code 11 on the back surface of the recording medium 1 is detected by the sensor 9. By detecting, the type of the recording medium 1 can be discriminated, and the gloss liquid applying means 8 can be moved toward and away according to the determination result to control the application or non-application of the gloss liquid. As shown in FIG. 18, the recording medium type discriminating sensor 9 includes a light projecting unit 91 made up of LEDs and the like, and reflected light reflected from the detection light emitted from the light projecting unit 91 on the back surface of the recording medium 1. It is possible to use an optical sensor constituted by a light receiving portion 92 made of a phototransistor or the like that receives light.
[0148]
FIG. 19 shows a control flow of the gloss liquid applying unit 8.
[0149]
First, the type code 11 of the recording medium 1 is detected by the recording medium type discriminating sensor 9 and its type is discriminated (S1). Next, it is determined whether or not the discriminated type of the recording medium 1 is to be applied with a glossy liquid (S2). If it is determined that the gloss liquid is not, the gloss liquid applying means 8 is moved away from the recording medium 1 to a position where no gloss liquid is applied as shown in FIG. 16B (S3). On the other hand, when it is determined that the gloss liquid needs to be applied or that it is preferable to apply the gloss liquid, the gloss liquid applying means 8 is brought into contact with the recording surface of the recording medium 1 as shown in FIG. The gloss liquid is moved to a position where it is applied (S4).
[0150]
As described above, by having means for selectively determining whether or not to apply the gloss liquid according to the type of the recording medium 1, the gloss is selectively given only to the type of the recording medium 1 to which the gloss should be given. Will be able to.
[0151]
In the present invention, it is also preferable to have gloss liquid application selection means for arbitrarily selecting whether or not to apply the gloss liquid to the recording medium 1. Such glossy liquid application selection means can be constituted by, for example, a glossy liquid application switch. When the operator arbitrarily operates the glossy liquid application selection unit, the glossy liquid application unit 8 is selectively brought into contact with or separated from the recording medium 1 as shown in FIGS. Change it.
[0152]
FIG. 20 shows a control flow of the gloss liquid applying means 8 when a gloss liquid applying switch is used as the gloss liquid applying selection means.
[0153]
First, it is determined whether or not the glossy liquid application switch is in the ON state (S5). As a result, if it is determined that the glossy liquid application switch is in the OFF state, the glossy liquid application unit 8 records as shown in FIG. It is moved away from the medium 1 to a position where no gloss liquid is applied (S6). On the other hand, if it is determined to be in the ON state, the gloss liquid applying means 8 is moved to the position where the gloss liquid is applied by contacting the recording surface of the recording medium 1 as shown in FIG. 16A (S7). .
[0154]
By having the gloss liquid application selection means for selecting whether or not to apply the gloss liquid in this way, it is possible to freely select whether or not to give the gloss to the recording medium 1 according to the purpose. .
[0155]
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the glossy liquid applying means 8 for applying the gloss liquid to the recording surface of the recording medium 1 has been described in which the gloss liquid is impregnated in the coating pad 84. The application roller 81 shown in FIG. 12 or the application belt 82 shown in FIG. 13 is impregnated, and the glossy liquid impregnated in the application roller 81 or the application belt 82 is passed through the application roller 85 as shown in FIGS. Alternatively, it may be applied in direct contact with the recording medium 1.
[0156]
Further, in order to control whether or not the gloss liquid is applied to the recording medium 1, the type of the recording medium 1 is determined by the recording medium type determination sensor 9 or the gloss liquid application selection switch is arbitrarily operated. Accordingly, the application roller 81, the application belt 82, and the application pad 83 shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 may be configured to be movable toward and away from the heating roller 41.
[0157]
Next, the configuration of the control system of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the existing code | symbol in the figure.
[0158]
In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a host device, which comprises a computer having image data (parameters such as image recording size, image data color-separated into YMCK, etc.) to be recorded in the ink jet recording apparatus. Image data sent from the host device 100 is taken into the ink jet recording apparatus via the interface unit 101.
[0159]
Reference numeral 102 denotes an image memory that temporarily stores image data fetched from the host device 100, 103 denotes a memory write controller that controls writing of the image data to the image memory 102, and 104 controls reading of the image data stored in the image memory 102. A memory read controller 105 is a head driver that drives and controls ink ejection of the recording head 3 in accordance with image data read from the image memory 102 by the memory read controller 104.
[0160]
106 is a carriage motor that moves and scans the recording head 3, 107 is a conveyance motor that rotationally drives the conveyance roller 21, 108 is a heating roller motor that rotationally drives the heating roller 41, and 109 is gloss liquid application that constitutes a gloss liquid application selection unit. Switch.
[0161]
110 controls the interface unit 101, the image memory 102, the memory write controller 103, and the memory write controller 104 to fetch information on the image data from the host device 100, and the image data, the heating roller temperature from the temperature sensor 5, and the recording medium type The head driver 105, the carriage motor 106, the transport motor 107, the heating roller motor 108, and the heating element 43 are controlled according to the determination result by the determination sensor 9, and the application of the gloss liquid is controlled by the operator operation of the gloss liquid application switch 109. CPU.
[0162]
Next, the temperature control means of the heating and pressing means 4 in the present invention will be described.
[0163]
In the present invention, the heating and pressurizing means 4 is maintained in a predetermined temperature range by the temperature control means. The predetermined temperature range held by the temperature control means is a target temperature (T that is necessary and sufficient for the ink receiving layer of the recording medium 1 to be transparent). _O ) With a certain fluctuation range (ΔT), and the predetermined temperature range is T _O When ± ΔT, T _O Is preferably 50 to 150 ° C., and ΔT is preferably 10 ° C. or less.
[0164]
T _O If ± ΔT is out of the above range, the fluctuation range necessary and sufficient for stably heat-treating the recording medium 1 is exceeded, and the ink receiving layer, which is important for producing a high-quality image print, can be made transparent. Disappear.
[0165]
Each aspect of temperature control by such temperature control means will be described below. Hereinafter, the term “temperature” with respect to the heating and pressurizing means 4 refers to a temperature range having a certain fluctuation range.
[0166]
In the first mode of temperature control, when image recording is not performed for a certain period of time, temperature control is stopped and heat generation of the heating element 43 is stopped (sleep mode), and the heating and pressurizing unit 4 is not heated. It is to be.
[0167]
This control flow will be described with reference to FIG.
[0168]
First, when the apparatus is turned on (S10), the target temperature of the heating roller 41 is set to the standard temperature (T _normal ) (S11), and then the timer is started (S12).
[0169]
After starting the timer, it is determined whether there is a print command (S13). If there is no print command, the timer elapsed time is the sleep mode start time (t ₂ ) Is exceeded (S14), and if not, the processes of S13 to S14 are repeated.
[0170]
In S14, the timer elapsed time t ₂ If it exceeds, the temperature control is switched to the sleep mode, and the power supply to the heating element 43 of the heating roller 41 is stopped and turned off (S15). As a result, the temperature control is stopped, and the heating roller 41 enters a non-heated state. After the temperature control enters the sleep mode and the heating element 43 of the heating roller 41 is in the OFF state, the process returns to S13 to determine again whether or not there is a print command, and repeats the processes of S13 to S15 until there is a print command.
[0171]
If there is a print command in S13, the target temperature of the heating roller 41 is set to the standard temperature (T _normal (S16), and thereafter, the recording medium 1 is heated and pressurized according to the heating and pressing control flow. In S14, the timer elapsed time t ₂ Even if there is a print command before the temperature exceeds, the recording medium 1 is heated and pressed according to the heating and pressing control flow.
[0172]
As described above, when the temperature control unit does not record an image for a certain period of time, the temperature control is stopped to stop the heat generation of the heating and pressurizing unit 4, so that useless power consumption can be suppressed and power consumption can be saved. Can be achieved.
[0173]
Next, the heating and pressing control flow when there is a print command in S13 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0174]
When a print command is issued in S13, the temperature (T) of the heating roller 41 is changed to a target standard temperature (T) when the recording medium 1 is heated and pressurized. _normal ) Is set (S16). Next, whether or not the temperature of the heating roller 41 has substantially reached the standard temperature (T≈T _normal (S17), and if not reached yet, the temperature of the heating roller 41 is the minimum processing temperature (T) required when the recording medium 1 is heated and pressurized. _min ) Or not (T ≧ T _min (S18). This minimum processing temperature (T _min ) Is the lowest temperature at which the thermoplastic resin particles in the ink receiving layer of the recording medium 1 can be melted when the rotation speed of the heating roller 41 is the slowest, and is determined according to the type of the recording medium 1. .
[0175]
In S18, T <T _min In case of T ≧ T _min Wait until it becomes T ≧ T _min Then, the number of rotations of the heating roller 41 and the recording speed of the recording head 3 are set to values corresponding to the temperature reached by the heating roller 41 (S19), and the heating and pressurizing process time is made relatively long to heat and pressurize. Then, image recording is performed for a predetermined unit, for example, for each line of the image, for each image, etc. (S20).
[0176]
When the heating and pressing time is relatively long, it is preferable that the recording time per unit length of the image in the recording medium conveyance direction by the recording head 3 is relatively long. As a result, the recording speed of the image by the recording head 3 and the heating and pressing processing speed of the recording medium 1 by the heating and pressing means 4 can be made substantially the same. There is no need to provide special recording medium storage means for waiting the recorded recording medium 1 between them.
[0177]
In order to relatively increase the recording time per unit length in the recording medium conveyance direction, in the case of the reciprocating scanning type recording head 3 that is moved and scanned along the direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 1, Adjustment can be made by lengthening the stop time when the moving direction of the head 3 is reversed. In this way, the driving frequency and scanning speed of the recording head 3 can be kept constant without any change, the ink ejection characteristics of the recording head 3 are stabilized, and the driving circuit and scanning driving system of the recording head 3 are stabilized. Is preferable because it can be simplified.
[0178]
Further, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 25, the recording head has a length corresponding to the width of the recording medium 1 and is constructed across the width direction of the recording medium 1. It may be constituted by a line-like recording head 3 ′ in which ink discharge nozzles are formed over the entire area, and in the case of such a recording head 3 ′, as described above, per unit length in the recording medium conveyance direction. In order to make the recording time relatively long, it can be adjusted by delaying the ink discharge interval of the recording head 3 '. In general, in the case of the line-shaped head 3 ′, the ink ejection interval is longer than that of the reciprocating scanning recording head 3, and therefore, the change in ink ejection characteristics is small even when the ejection cycle is changed to be longer.
[0179]
When the image recording of the predetermined unit is completed in S20, it is determined whether or not the commanded recording of the predetermined number of prints has been completed (S21), and if not completed yet, the processes from S17 to S20 are repeated.
[0180]
In S17, the temperature (T) of the heating roller 41 is changed to the standard temperature (T _normal ) Is almost reached, the rotation speed of the heating roller 41 and the recording speed of the recording head 3 are set to standard values (S22), and image recording and heating and pressurizing processes are performed until the command number of prints is completed.
[0181]
Thus, after the heating and pressurizing unit 4 returns from the stoppage of heat generation, the heating and pressurizing time until the heating and pressurizing unit 4 is equal to or higher than the minimum processing temperature and the heating and pressurizing unit 4 reaches a predetermined temperature range. By making the recording medium 1 to be heated and pressed relatively long, it is not necessary to wait until the heating and pressing means 4 reaches a predetermined temperature range, and the heating and pressing process is started at an early stage. Therefore, it is possible to increase the speed of image print creation.
[0182]
When the image recording of a predetermined unit is completed in S21, the process returns to S12 to start the timer (restart after reset), and the temperature control after S13 by the temperature control means is repeated.
[0183]
A second mode of temperature control by the temperature control means will be described.
[0184]
The second mode of temperature control is to hold the heating and pressurizing means 4 in a second temperature range (energy saving mode) lower than a predetermined temperature range by the temperature control means when the image is not recorded for a certain time. is there.
[0185]
This control flow will be described with reference to FIG.
[0186]
First, the apparatus is activated by turning on the power (S30), and the target temperature of the heating roller 41 is set to the standard temperature (T _normal ) (S31), and then the timer is started (S32).
[0187]
After starting the timer, it is determined whether or not there is a print command (S33). If there is no print command, the timer elapsed time is the energy saving mode start time (t ₁ ) Is exceeded (S34), and if not, the processes of S33 to S34 are repeated.
[0188]
In S34, the timer elapsed time t ₁ If the temperature exceeds, the temperature control switches to the energy saving mode, and the target temperature (T) of the heating roller 41 is changed to the standard temperature (T _normal ) Lower temperature (T _low ) Is set (S35). Thereby, the temperature of the heating roller 41 is controlled to the second temperature range lower than the predetermined temperature range. The temperature control is switched to the energy saving mode and the temperature of the heating roller 41 is T. _low Is set, the process returns to S33 to determine again whether or not there is a print command, and the processing of S33 to S35 is repeated until there is a print command.
[0189]
When a print command is issued in S33, the target temperature of the heating roller 41 is set to the standard temperature (T _normal (S16), and thereafter, the recording medium 1 is heated and pressurized according to the heating and pressing control flow. In S34, the timer elapsed time t ₁ Even if there is a print command before the temperature exceeds, the recording medium 1 is heated and pressed according to the heating and pressing control flow. Since the subsequent control flow of the heating and pressing process is the same as S16 to S22 shown in FIG.
[0190]
As described above, when the temperature control unit does not record an image for a certain period of time, the temperature of the heating and pressurizing unit 4 is controlled to the second temperature range lower than the predetermined temperature range, thereby saving power consumption. In addition, since the heating roller 41 can be quickly heated to the standard temperature at the start of the heating and pressing process, the heating and pressing process can be resumed in a short time.
[0191]
Further, in the heating and pressurizing process in the second mode, after the heating and pressurizing means 4 returns from the second temperature range, the heating and pressurizing means 4 is equal to or higher than the minimum processing temperature and the heating and pressurizing means 4 is set to a predetermined level. Until the temperature range is reached, the heating and pressurizing time is set to be relatively long so that the recording medium 1 is subjected to the heating and pressing process, thereby waiting until the heating and pressing means 4 reaches a predetermined temperature range. This eliminates the need for heating and pressurization processing at an early stage, and the speed of image print creation can be increased accordingly.
[0192]
A third mode of temperature control by the temperature control means will be described.
[0193]
In the third mode of temperature control, when the image is not recorded for a certain period of time, the heating and pressurizing means 4 is held in the second temperature range (energy saving mode) lower than the predetermined temperature range, and further, the image of the certain period of time is recorded. When recording is not performed, the temperature control is stopped and heat generation of the heating and pressurizing unit 4 is stopped (sleep mode).
[0194]
This control flow will be described with reference to FIG.
[0195]
First, when the apparatus is turned on (S40), the target temperature of the heating roller 41 is set to the standard temperature (T _normal ) (S41), and then the timer is started (S42).
[0196]
After starting the timer, it is determined whether there is a print command (S43). If there is no print command, the timer elapsed time is the energy saving mode start time (t ₁ ) Is exceeded (S44), and if not, the processes in S43 to S44 are repeated.
[0197]
In S44, the timer elapsed time t ₁ Exceeds the timer elapsed time, the sleep mode start time (t ₂ ) Is exceeded (S45). Energy saving mode start time (t ₁ ) And sleep mode start time (t ₂ ) Is t ₁ <T ₂ It is. As a result, the timer elapsed time t ₁ Passed, but t ₂ Is not yet exceeded, the temperature control switches to the energy saving mode, and the target temperature (T) of the heating roller 41 is changed to the standard temperature (T _normal ) Lower temperature (T _low ) Is set (S46). Thereby, the temperature of the heating roller 41 is controlled to the second temperature range lower than the predetermined temperature range. Temperature control enters energy saving mode and the temperature of the heating roller 41 is T _low After the setting is made, the process returns to S43 to determine again whether or not there is a print command, and repeats the processing after S43 until there is a print command.
[0198]
In S45, the timer elapsed time t ₂ If the temperature exceeds the temperature control, the temperature control is switched to the sleep mode, the energization of the heating roller 41 to the heat generating body 43 is stopped and turned off (S47). As a result, the temperature control is stopped, and the heating roller 41 enters a non-heated state. After the temperature control is switched to the sleep mode and the heating element 43 of the heating roller 41 is turned off, the process returns to S43 to determine again whether or not there is a print command, and repeats the processing after S43 until there is a print command.
[0199]
When a print command is issued in S43, the target temperature of the heating roller 41 is set to the standard temperature (T _normal (S16), and thereafter, the recording medium 1 is heated and pressurized according to the heating and pressing control flow. In S44, the timer elapsed time t ₁ Even if there is a print command before the temperature exceeds, the recording medium 1 is heated and pressed according to the heating and pressing control flow. Since the subsequent control flow of the heating and pressing process is the same as S16 to S22 shown in FIG.
[0200]
Thus, when the temperature control unit does not record an image for a certain period of time, the temperature of the heating and pressurizing unit 4 is controlled to the second temperature range lower than the predetermined temperature range, and further, the image recording for a certain period of time is performed. When not performed, if the temperature control of the heating and pressurizing means is stopped to stop the heat generation of the heating and pressurizing means, wasteful power consumption over a long period of time can be suppressed, and power consumption can be saved. In addition, when the image recording is resumed after a relatively short recording pause, the heating roller 41 can be quickly heated to the standard temperature, so that the heating and pressing process can be resumed in a short time.
[0201]
Further, in the heating and pressurizing process in the third aspect, after the heating and pressurizing unit 4 stops heating or returns from the second temperature range, the heating and pressing unit 4 is at or above the minimum processing temperature and the heating and pressurizing unit 4. Until the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature range, the heating and pressurizing process is performed for a relatively long time so that the heating and pressurizing process is performed on the recording medium 1 so that the heating and pressing means 4 is kept within the predetermined temperature range. There is no need to wait until it reaches, and the heating and pressurizing process can be started at an early stage, and the speed of image print creation can be increased accordingly.
[0202]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing thermoplastic resin particles on the surface layer and a pigment ink solvent absorbing layer adjacent to the inside of the ink receiving layer is heated and pressed to make the ink receiving layer transparent. In doing so, it is possible to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of appropriately making the transparency and creating a high-quality image print.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of heating and pressing means.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line (iii)-(iii) of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the heating and pressurizing means.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the heating and pressurizing means.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the cleaning means.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another aspect of the cleaning means.
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a transfer preventing liquid applying unit.
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the transfer preventing liquid applying unit.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing still another aspect of the transfer preventing liquid applying unit.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing still another aspect of the transfer preventing liquid applying means.
FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a glossy liquid applying unit.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the gloss liquid applying means.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing still another aspect of the gloss liquid applying means.
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing still another aspect of the gloss liquid applying means.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the gloss liquid is selectively applied.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the back side of a recording medium provided with a type code.
FIG. 18 is a configuration diagram showing a recording medium type discrimination sensor.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the gloss liquid applying unit.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing another control flow of the gloss liquid applying unit.
FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the first mode of the temperature control means.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a control flow of the second mode of the temperature control means.
FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a control flow of a third mode of the temperature control means.
FIG. 25 is a configuration diagram showing another aspect of the ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing a stacked structure of a recording medium.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Recording medium
2: Recording medium conveying means
3: (Reciprocating scan type) recording head
3 ': (Line shape) recording head
4: Heating and pressing means
41: Heating roller
42: Pressure roller
43: Heating element
47, 47a, 47b: belt members
46a to 46g: Rollers for suspending the belt member
5: Temperature sensor
6: Cleaning means
7: Transfer prevention liquid applying means
8: Glossy liquid applying means
9: Recording medium type discrimination sensor
109: Glossy liquid application selection means (Glossy liquid application selection switch)

Claims (1)

A recording head for performing recording by discharging ink to a recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing thermoplastic resin particles on the surface layer and a pigment ink solvent absorbing layer adjacent to the inside of the ink receiving layer; Recording was performed by a heating and pressurizing unit that makes the ink receiving layer of the recording medium transparent by heating and pressurization, a temperature control unit that maintains the temperature of the heating and pressurizing unit in a predetermined temperature range, and the recording head. Recording medium conveying means for conveying the recording medium to the heating and pressurizing means,
When recording is not performed for a certain period of time, temperature control by the temperature control unit is stopped and heat generation by the heating and pressurizing unit is stopped, or an ink jet recording apparatus that maintains a second temperature range lower than the predetermined temperature range Because
The recording head is configured to perform reciprocal scanning along a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium to perform recording;
After the heating and pressurizing means stops heating or returns from the second temperature range, the heating and pressurizing time is relatively set until the heating and pressurizing means reaches the predetermined temperature range above the minimum processing temperature. The recording medium is heated and pressed for a long time, and the recording time per unit length in the recording medium conveyance direction is relatively long by adjusting the stop time when the moving direction of the recording head is reversed. An ink jet recording apparatus.

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