JP4876995B2 - Recording apparatus and liquid ejecting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a liquid ejecting apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a liquid ejecting apparatus using ultraviolet curable ink that is cured when irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

  There is a recording apparatus or a liquid ejecting apparatus that forms an image or a pattern on a recording medium using ultraviolet curable ink. The ultraviolet curable ink has a preferable characteristic as a printing ink, in which the curing is very slow until it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and it is rapidly cured when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. In addition, since the solvent is not volatilized during curing, there is also an advantage that the environmental load is small.

  Furthermore, the UV curable ink exhibits high adhesion to various recording media depending on the composition of the vehicle, and is chemically stable after curing, such as adhesion, chemical resistance, weather resistance, and friction resistance. It has excellent characteristics such as high resistance to outdoor environments. Therefore, an image can be formed not only on a thin sheet-like recording medium such as paper, a resin film, or a metal foil, but also on an optical recording medium having a three-dimensional surface shape such as a label surface or a textile product. .

  As a method for attaching the ultraviolet curable ink to the recording medium, there may be coating, printing, etc., but the use of an ink jet recording apparatus that can form an arbitrary image or pattern with high accuracy without a printing plate is also expected. In addition, a structure that combines main scanning for moving the recording head for ejecting ink and sub-scanning for moving the recording medium in a direction crossing the main scanning direction enables the use of a nozzle with a limited size and a long length. An image can be recorded in an arbitrary area even on a recording medium having a large scale or area.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes that in an ink jet recording apparatus, an ink contains an ultraviolet curing agent and the recording surface immediately after recording is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to improve the quick drying property of the recording surface. More specifically, in an ink jet printer, an ultraviolet curable ink is used as the ink, and the ink attached to the recording medium is immediately cured and fixed by ultraviolet lamps installed at both ends of the recording head. be written.

  Patent Document 2 includes a recording head that discharges ink that is cured by ultraviolet irradiation, and an ultraviolet irradiation unit that is connected to the recording head, and the image support, the recording head, and the ultraviolet irradiation unit are relative to each other. In the image forming apparatus that moves, a structure is described in which an input digital image is formed on an image support by scanning a plurality of recording heads, and ink is cured by ultraviolet irradiation for each scan.

  Further, Patent Documents 3, 4 and 5 below describe countermeasures against ink mist generated during a recording operation in an ink jet recording apparatus using ultraviolet curable ink. That is, Patent Document 3 describes that, in a recording head including a pair of ultraviolet irradiation units, ink is cured by an ultraviolet irradiation unit in front of the traveling direction in which ink mist is not floating. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228867 describes that ink mist sticking is eliminated by reducing the adhesion of the ink itself. Further, Patent Document 5 describes providing means for detecting deterioration of the ultraviolet irradiation device due to ink mist.

JP-A-60-132767 US Pat. No. 6,092,890 JP 2003-011334 A JP 2004-350761 A JP 2005-103838 A

  However, in a recording apparatus using ultraviolet curable ink, the ink mist is not limited to the ultraviolet irradiation section. Further, once the ultraviolet curable ink is ejected, even if it is not irradiated with ultraviolet rays, when it is applied with energy by heat or the like, it is finally cured although the curing time is long. For this reason, for example, when ink mist adheres to the guide shaft that guides the carriage in the recording apparatus and is cured, the carriage does not move smoothly. In addition, it is difficult to dissolve or remove the ink mist that has been cured once, resulting in a problem that the life of the recording apparatus itself is shortened.

Therefore, as a first embodiment of the present invention, a guide shaft extending in a certain direction, a carriage that slides along the guide shaft while moving with respect to the guide shaft, and mounted on the carriage are made ultraviolet curable. A recording head that discharges the ink having an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays to the ink that is ejected from the recording head and adheres to the recording medium, and the ink that adheres to the recording medium is cured by ultraviolet rays A recording device for forming an image fixed on the surface of a medium, which holds a polymerization inhibitor that inhibits ultraviolet curing of ink and moves with the carriage while sliding on the guide shaft with respect to the carriage a supply unit for attaching a polymerization inhibitor, further comprising a replenishing portion for replenishing the polymerization inhibitor to the supply unit, the supply unit is impregnated with the polymerization inhibitor, In contact with the serial guide shaft you comprising a fixed porous body with respect to the carriage recording apparatus is provided. As a result, even if ink mist adheres to the sliding surface of the guide shaft with respect to the carriage, the ink is not cured, and sliding failure due to the cured ink is prevented.

 In the recording apparatus, the polymerization inhibitor may be supplied in a state of being mixed with a lubricant that reduces sliding resistance between the guide shaft and the carriage. Thereby, a polymerization inhibitor can be supplied together by the member and method which supply a lubricant. Therefore, the above effects can be enjoyed without greatly changing the structure of the existing recording apparatus.

  Furthermore, in the recording apparatus, the supply amount of the polymerization inhibitor may be increased or decreased according to the amount of ink discharged and the amount of ultraviolet irradiation. Accordingly, even when a large amount of ink mist is generated, the ink mist attached to the guide shaft can be reliably prevented from being cured, and at the same time, when the amount of generated ink mist is small, the consumption of the polymerization inhibitor can be suppressed.

  In the recording apparatus, the supply unit may include a porous body impregnated with a polymerization inhibitor and fixed to the carriage in contact with the guide shaft. As a result, the polymerization inhibitor can be uniformly supplied to the surface of the guide shaft with a simple structure.

  Furthermore, in the recording apparatus, the replenishment unit may include a porous body that is impregnated with a polymerization inhibitor and contacts the supply unit when the carriage moves to a specific position along the guide shaft. Thereby, a polymerization inhibitor can be replenished with respect to a supply part at arbitrary timings. Therefore, the polymerization inhibitor is not exhausted from the supply unit, and the recording apparatus can be stably operated over a long period of time.

  In the recording apparatus, the polymerization inhibitor may be replenished and supplied in a state of being mixed with a lubricant that reduces sliding resistance on the sliding surface. As a result, the lubricant is sufficiently supplied together with the polymerization inhibitor, so that the operation of the recording apparatus becomes smoother. Moreover, since it is not necessary to supply the lubricant and the polymerization inhibitor as separate supplies for maintenance of the recording apparatus, handling of the recording apparatus is facilitated.

Further, as a second embodiment of the present invention, a guide shaft extending in a certain direction, a carriage that slides along the guide shaft while moving with respect to the guide shaft, and mounted on the carriage are made ultraviolet curable. A liquid ejecting head that ejects the liquid and an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head and adhering to the recording medium, and curing the liquid adhering to the recording medium with the ultraviolet light. A liquid ejecting apparatus that forms an image fixed on the surface of a recording medium, holds a polymerization inhibitor that inhibits ultraviolet curing of the liquid, and slides on the guide shaft with respect to the carriage while moving with the carriage. a supply unit for attaching a polymerization inhibitor to the sliding surface, further comprising a replenishing portion for replenishing the polymerization inhibitor with respect to the supply unit, the supply unit is impregnated with the polymerization inhibitor Liquid ejecting apparatus you wherein is provided to include a fixed porous body with respect to the carriage in contact with the guide shaft. Thereby, the above-described effect can be enjoyed also in the liquid ejecting apparatus.

  The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention. Further, a sub-combination of these feature groups can be an invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in the figure, the ink jet recording apparatus 100 includes a recording unit 120 formed between a pair of upright frames 130 and 131 facing each other, a paper supply unit 112 and a paper discharge unit 114. A paper section 110.

  The recording unit 120 includes a support drum 140 and guide shafts 132, 134, 136, and 138 supported between a pair of parallel frames 130. The support drum 140 is supported by the horizontal rotation shaft 142 from the frame 130 and rotates in the direction of the arrow R shown in the drawing while holding the recording paper 150 on the support surface 144 which is the peripheral surface. Note that the members that rotate the support drum 140 are not shown.

  On the other hand, a pair of guide shafts 132, 134 out of two pairs of guide shafts 132, 134, 136, 138 that are parallel to each other pass through the recording unit carriage 170 and support it while guiding its reciprocating movement direction. The recording unit carriage 170 carries a recording head 180 that discharges ultraviolet curable ink.

  The other pair of guide shafts 136 and 138 supports the irradiation unit carriage 160 in a state where it can also reciprocate. The irradiation unit carriage 160 carries an ultraviolet irradiation unit 162 (to be described later). Note that the drive mechanism for moving the irradiation unit carriage 160 and the recording unit carriage 170 is omitted for the purpose of avoiding complicated drawing.

  The paper feed unit 112 supplies the sheet-like recording paper 150 one by one to the recording unit 120 having the above structure. The recording paper 150 supplied to the recording unit 120 is wound around the support surface 144 of the support drum 140 and rotates together with the support drum 140.

  The recording head 180 mounted on the recording unit carriage 170 discharges and adheres ultraviolet curable ink to the recording paper 150 that rotates while being supported by the support drum 140. Further, the ultraviolet curable ink adhering to the recording paper 150 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 162. In this way, the image formed with the ultraviolet curable ink is fixed on the surface of the recording paper 150.

  Further, when the support drum 140 is rotated once or more and an image is recorded on the recording paper 150 in a partial section in the longitudinal direction of the support drum 140, the recording unit carriage 170 moves along the guide shafts 132 and 134. A similar recording operation is performed on an area adjacent to the area. Thereafter, an image is formed on the entire surface of the recording paper 150 by repeating the operation of moving the recording unit carriage 170 each time the support drum 140 makes one rotation or more while the recording head 180 performs the recording operation.

  In other words, in the ink jet recording apparatus 100, the rotation direction of the support drum 140 is the main scanning direction, and the moving direction of the recording unit carriage 170 is the sub scanning direction. This is different from many recording apparatuses in which the moving direction of the recording unit carriage 170 is the main scanning direction and the conveying direction of the recording paper 150 is the sub-scanning direction.

  The irradiation unit carriage 160 that conveys the ultraviolet irradiation unit 162 moves in accordance with the movement of the recording unit carriage 170 and irradiates the ultraviolet curable ink immediately after being ejected from the recording head 180 onto the recording paper 150 with ultraviolet rays. To do. However, it is preferable to reduce the load peak on the power supply unit of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 by shifting the movement start timing of the irradiation unit carriage 160 and the recording unit carriage 170.

  That is, when the irradiation unit carriage 160 and the recording unit carriage 170 are integrated, the inertial mass to be accelerated when starting the movement of the carriage is remarkably increased, so that the load on the driving mechanism is increased. Further, when a large mass is stably accelerated / decelerated, the frame 130 is also required to have a high strength and a large weight.

  Therefore, with the structure in which the irradiation unit carriage 160 and the recording unit carriage 170 are separated, the capacity of the power supply device can be reduced, and the scale of the device and the cost can be reduced. The recording sheet 150 on which the image is recorded in this manner is removed from the support drum 140 and is taken in and accumulated in the paper discharge unit 114.

  Further, the ink jet recording apparatus 100 includes a supply unit 210 supported by the frame 130 in the vicinity of the base of the guide shafts 132 and 134 with respect to the frame 130. A notch portion 212 is formed at the lower end of the replenishment portion 210 so as to surround the guide shafts 132 and 134 while being spaced apart from each other. Further, in the recording unit carriage 170, supply units 310 and 320 are attached to the openings of the through holes 176 through which the guide shafts 132 and 134 are inserted. Details of the replenishment unit 210 and the supply unit 320 will be described later. In FIG. 1, the supply unit 210 is drawn on one frame 130, but the same supply unit 210 is mounted on the other frame 131 so as to face the recording unit carriage 170.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the recording unit 120 of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, in the recording unit 120, the recording unit carriage 170 is supported by a pair of guide shafts 132 and 134 and supports the ink tank 174 and the recording head 180.

  The ink tank 174 holds a predetermined amount of ink supplied from an ink cartridge (not shown) and stably supplies a fixed amount of ink to the recording head 180. The recording head 180 is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the recording paper 150 held on the support surface 144 of the support drum 140 and ejects ink toward the recording paper 150.

  The ultraviolet irradiation unit 162 includes a plurality of lamp units 161 aligned along the rotation direction of the support drum 140. The lamp units 161 are arranged along the rotational movement direction of the recording paper 150 that moves according to the rotation of the support drum 140. Therefore, even when the UV output of each lamp unit 161 is small, a sufficient UV irradiation amount can be obtained while the recording paper 150 rotates.

  In the recording unit 120 as described above, the recording paper 150 to which the ink ejected from the recording head 180 adheres rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow R in the drawing according to the rotation of the support drum 140. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 162 supported by the irradiation unit carriage 160 is disposed on the downstream side of the recording head 180 in the rotation direction. Accordingly, the ultraviolet curable ink ejected from the recording head 180 and attached to the recording paper 150 is immediately irradiated with ultraviolet rays to start curing.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the recording unit carriage 170 alone. Further, this also serves as an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the supply units 310 and 320 mounted on the recording unit carriage 170. 3 shows the supply unit 310 mounted on one side of the recording unit carriage 170, the supply unit 320 having the same structure is mounted on the other side of the recording unit carriage 170. .

  As shown in the drawing, the recording unit carriage 170 has a carriage body 172 having a pair of horizontal through holes 176 through which guide shafts 132 and 134 are inserted, and an ink tank 174. The recording head 180 is mounted on the upper surface of the carriage body 172. The recording head 180 includes five head units 181 to 185, and each of the head units 181 to 185 ejects different types of ink, for example, different colors.

  In addition, a substantially annular supply unit 310 is mounted around the opening of the through hole 176, respectively. Each of the supply units 310 is formed by combining the coating member 312, the wiper member 314, and the cap member 316 sequentially from the side closer to the carriage body 172.

  The application member 312 is formed of an annular porous material having a through hole. The inner diameter of the through hole of the coating member 312 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole 176 of the carriage body 172, and the guide shafts 132, 134 are in a state where the recording unit carriage 170 is supported by the guide shafts 132, 134. Keep in contact with the surface. Therefore, by impregnating the application member 312 with a liquid such as a lubricant, the liquid can be attached to the inserted guide shafts 132 and 134.

  The application member 312 has a protrusion 311 formed integrally with the same material on the upper part, and the function of the protrusion 311 will be described later. Further, examples of the porous material that can form the application member 312 include a lubricant, a polymerization inhibitor, and a felt, a foam, and the like formed of a chemically stable material with respect to the ultraviolet curable ink, which will be described later.

  The wiper member 314 is made of an elastic material, and has a short tubular portion and a flange-like portion formed at one end thereof. The tubular portion has a larger inner diameter than the through hole 176 of the carriage main body 172, but the distal end portion 313 opposite to the flange-shaped portion is narrowed to have substantially the same inner diameter as the through hole 176.

  Therefore, when the guide shafts 132 and 134 to which a liquid such as a lubricant is applied are inserted through the wiper member 314, excess liquid adhering to the guide shafts 132 and 134 is scraped off by the distal end portion 313. As an elastic material capable of forming the wiper member 314, elastic elastomers, resins, and the like are widely used as long as the materials are chemically stable with a lubricant, a polymerization inhibitor, and an ultraviolet curable ink, which will be described later. be able to.

  The cap member 316 fixes the application member 312 and the wiper member 314 mounted on the side surface of the carriage main body 172 so as not to drop off. For this reason, a through hole 317 having a smaller inner diameter than the annular portion of the application member 312 and the flange portion of the wiper member 314 is provided. The cap member 316 itself has a claw portion 319 for fixing the cap member 316 to the carriage main body 172. Furthermore, it has the notch part 315 which penetrates the projection part 311 formed in the application | coating member 312. FIG. However, the inner diameter of the through hole 317 is sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the guide shafts 132 and 134 so that the movement of the recording unit carriage 170 is not hindered when the guide shafts 132 and 134 are mounted.

  In FIG. 3, a state in which the coating member 312, the wiper member 314, and the cap member 316 are assembled is depicted on the rear side of the carriage main body 172 in the drawing (the side close to the recording head 180). As described above, when the cap member 316 is engaged with the carriage main body 172, the tip end portion 313 of the wiper member 314 protrudes laterally from the through hole 317 of the cap member 316. Further, the protrusion 311 of the application member 312 protrudes upward from the notch 315 of the cap member 316.

  FIG. 4 is a front view showing the recording head 180 as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. Further, in this figure, the supply units 310 and 320 are mounted on the carriage body 172.

  As shown in the figure, the recording head 180 mounted on the carriage main body 172 includes five head units 181 to 185. Each of the head units 181 to 185 includes nozzle plates 191 to 195 on the surface facing the recording paper 150 supported by the support drum 140. In each of the nozzle plates 191 to 195, nozzles that discharge ultraviolet curable ink are formed. The drive structure for ejecting ink from the head units 181 to 185 includes various methods such as a method of sucking ink droplets by electrostatic force or the like, and a method of ejecting ink using a crystal resonator, a piezoelectric element, or the like. It is already known and is appropriately selected according to the application.

  In addition, the supply units 310 and 320 mounted on both sides of the carriage body 172 protrude sideward from the carriage body 172 in the extending direction of the guide shaft 134. Accordingly, when the recording unit carriage 170 reciprocates along the guide shafts 132 and 134, one of the supply units 310 and 320 precedes the carriage body 172 with respect to the moving direction.

  Further, the liquid impregnated in the application member 312 is applied to the guide shafts 132 and 134 as the supply units 310 and 320 move. Further, when excessive liquid adheres to the guide shafts 132 and 134, the wiper member 314 scrapes off the excessive liquid. Further, the carriage body 172 slides with respect to the guide shaft immediately after the liquid is applied. Therefore, when the recording unit carriage 170 slides with respect to the guide shafts 132 and 134, an appropriate amount of liquid is applied to the surfaces of the guide shafts 132 and 134.

  The operation of the supply units 310 and 320 as described above can be used when a lubricant is applied to the sliding surfaces of the guide shafts 132 and 134 with respect to the recording unit carriage 170. Further, the polymerization inhibitor can be continuously supplied to the sliding surfaces of the guide shafts 132 and 134 by mixing the oil-soluble polymerization inhibitor with the lubricant and impregnating the application member 312. Accordingly, the ink mist of the ultraviolet curable ink is prevented from sticking to the sliding surfaces of the guide shafts 132 and 134, and the smooth movement of the recording unit carriage 170 can be maintained. Further, the ink mist that is not cured is easily scraped off by the wiper member 314 and removed from the sliding surfaces of the guide shafts 132 and 134.

  The polymerization inhibitor used in the above applications is used at a high concentration for the purpose of completely inhibiting the polymerization of the monomer contained in the ultraviolet curable ink that has come to the sliding surfaces of the guide shafts 132, 134, etc. as an ink mist. . However, when the content with respect to the medium exceeds 50% by weight, problems such as crystal precipitation may occur due to a temperature change or the like. Specific examples of the polymerization inhibitor include at least one compound selected from hydroquinones, catechols, hindered amines, phenols, phenothiazines, and condensed aromatic ring quinones. Moreover, fine particles such as carbon black having a polymerization-inhibiting functional group introduced on the surface can also be used.

  Examples of hydroquinones include hydroquinone, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, 1-o-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone, 2-tert-butylhydroquinone, and the like. Catechols include catechol, 4-methylcatechol, 4-tert-butylcatechol and the like. Examples of hindered amines include compounds having a tetramethylpiperidinyl group. Specific examples of phenols include phenol, butylhydroxytoluene, butylhydroxyanisole, pyrogallol, gallic acid, gallic acid alkyl ester, and the like. Examples of phenothiazines include phenothiazine. Examples of quinones having a condensed aromatic ring include naphthoquinone. Examples of the polymerization-inhibiting functional group that can be introduced into the fine particles such as carbon black include a hydroxyphenyl group, a dihydroxyphenyl group, a tetramethylpiperidinyl group, and a condensed aromatic ring. Further, for example, it can be obtained as Irgastab UV10 (trade name) manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ultraviolet irradiation unit 162 mounted on the irradiation unit carriage 160 by itself. As shown in the figure, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 162 includes a plurality of lamp units 165 mounted on a common irradiation unit frame 164. Each of the lamp units 165 includes a light source that generates ultraviolet rays, and is arranged in five rows in the rotation direction of the support drum 140. The arrangement of the lamp units 165 corresponds to the head units 181 to 185 of the recording head 180.

  Note that the width of each irradiation range of the lamp unit 165 is preferably wider than the individual recording widths of the head units 181 to 185. Thereby, even when the timings of movement of the irradiation unit carriage 160 and the recording unit carriage 170 are shifted, it is possible to irradiate the ultraviolet curable ink attached to the recording paper 150 with a sufficient irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays.

  Examples of the light source used in the lamp unit 165 include a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, a carbon arc lamp, a chemical lamp, a low pressure mercury lamp, and a high pressure mercury lamp. More specifically, commercially available products such as H lamp, D lamp, and V lamp manufactured by Fusion System may be used. Furthermore, a lamp unit can be formed using LEDs that emit light in the ultraviolet band. In addition, since the ultraviolet light source inevitably generates heat, it is also preferable to provide a facility for forcibly cooling in addition to providing the lamp unit 165 heat radiation portion.

  The ultraviolet curable ink that can be cured by irradiating the ultraviolet ray generated from the lamp unit 165 as described above is a mixture of a vehicle, a photopolymerization initiator and a pigment, and an auxiliary agent such as an antifoaming agent and a polymerization inhibitor. To be added. The vehicle is prepared by adjusting the viscosity of an oligomer, monomer or the like having photopolymerization curability with a reactive diluent. Therefore, the solvent is not volatilized for the purpose of curing the ink.

  As the vehicle, monofunctional or polyfunctional polymerizable compounds can be used. More specifically, oligomers (prepolymers) such as polyester acrylate, epoxy acrylate, and urethane acrylate can be exemplified, and these materials can also be used as a reactive diluent for adjusting the viscosity as an ink.

  As the photopolymerization initiator, benzophenone series, benzoin series, acetophenone series, and thioxanthone series are widely used. More specifically, 4-benzoyl-N, N, N-trimethyl benzene methanenannium chloride, 2-hydroxy 3- (4-benzoyl-phenoxy) -N, N, N-trimethyl 1-propylene, -N, N-dimethyl N- [2- (1-oxo-2-propenyloxy) ethyl] A quaternary ammonium salt type water-soluble organic substance such as benzene methanol bromide can be used. This type of photopolymerization initiator has different ultraviolet absorption characteristics, reaction initiation efficiency, yellowing, and the like depending on its composition, so that it is properly used depending on the color of the ink.

  As the polymerization inhibitor, any compound that has radical scavenging ability and inhibits radical polymerization can be used. However, in consideration of ejection suitability and the like in the ink jet recording apparatus, at least one compound selected from hydroquinones, catechols, hindered amines, phenols, phenothiazines, and condensed aromatic ring quinones is preferable.

  Examples of hydroquinones include hydroquinone, hydroquinone monomethyl ether, 1-o-2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone, 2-tert-butylhydroquinone and the like. Examples of catechols include catechol, 4-methylcatechol, 4-tert-butylcatechol and the like. Examples of hindered amines include compounds having a tetramethylpiperidinyl group.

  Examples of phenols include phenol, butylhydroxytoluene, butylhydroxyanisole, pyrogallol, gallic acid, gallic acid alkyl ester, and the like. Examples of phenothiazines include phenothiazine. Examples of the condensed aromatic ring quinones include naphthoquinone and the like.

  Furthermore, the polymerization inhibitor may be carbon black or inorganic / organic fine particles having a polymerization-inhibiting functional group introduced on the surface. Examples of the polymerization-preventing functional group include a hydroxyphenyl group, a dihydroxyphenyl group, a tetramethylpiperidinyl group, and a condensed aromatic ring. The polymerization inhibitor here is chemically common with the above-described polymerization inhibitor, but for the purpose of increasing the storage stability by suppressing the polymerization of the monomer originally contained in the ultraviolet curable ink. An ink added in an extremely small amount of about several tens to several hundred ppm.

  As described above, the supply units 310 and 320 supply both the lubricant and the polymerization inhibitor to the sliding surface. Here, the lubricant is rarely exhausted, and the lubricant initially impregnated in the application member 312 exhibits an effect over a long period of time. On the other hand, since the polymerization inhibitor is exhausted along with its action, it is required to replenish in order to maintain the polymerization inhibition effect on the sliding surface.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a part 101 of the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 100 when the polymerization inhibitor is supplied to the supply unit 310 using the supply unit 210 shown in FIG. In addition, the same reference number is attached | subjected to the same component as another drawing, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in the figure, when the polymerization inhibitor is supplied to the supply unit 310, the recording unit carriage 170 moves along the guide shafts 132 and 134 until the supply unit 310 contacts the supply unit 210. Thereby, the supply part 310 enters into the notch part 212 (refer FIG. 1) of the replenishment part 210. FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the delivery of the polymerization inhibitor between the replenishing unit 210 and the supplying unit 310 in the state shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a holding member 216 formed of a porous member impregnated with a large amount of a polymerization inhibitor is accommodated inside the replenishing unit 210. When the recording unit carriage 170 moves and the supply unit 310 enters the notch 212, the protrusion 311 of the application member 312 also enters the notch 214 and directly contacts the holding member 216. As a result, the polymerization inhibitor is replenished and collected in the application member 312 depleted of the polymerization inhibitor.

  In view of the above-described action, the application member 312 is preferably formed of a material having a higher absorption force due to capillary action than the holding member 216. The holding member 216 may hold and replenish the polymerization inhibitor alone, but may hold it in a state of being mixed with a lubricant. Thereby, since abundant lubricant is supplied to the application member 312, the recording unit carriage 170 can be slid even more smoothly.

  Many polymerization inhibitors have a high affinity for fats and oils, and therefore, the polymerization inhibitor supplied alone can be blended with a lubricant or mixed in advance without any problem. Furthermore, since most of the polymerization inhibitors are liquid, it is possible to use a polymerization inhibitor in which a solid lubricant is dispersed. Specifically, graphite having a solid lubricating action, molybdenum disulfide, or the like can be used as a lubricant.

  Furthermore, as described above, the polymerization inhibitor is exhausted by the polymerization inhibiting action on the ink mist. Therefore, for example, there is a correlation between the consumption of the ultraviolet curable ink in the recording head 180 and the consumption of the polymerization inhibitor. Therefore, it is possible to control the polymerization inhibitor to be replenished at every fixed discharge amount according to the discharge amount of the ultraviolet curable ink from the recording head 180 or the ultraviolet irradiation amount by the ultraviolet irradiation unit 162. It is preferable from the viewpoint of improving the utilization efficiency.

  Alternatively, every time the ink jet recording apparatus 100 is turned on, the number of reciprocations of the recording unit carriage 170, the movement load of the recording unit carriage 170, and the replacement of the ink cartridge of the ultraviolet curable ink, etc. Control may be performed so that the polymerization inhibitor is replenished at a correlated timing.

  Further, the supply of the polymerization inhibitor as described above is similarly performed on the supply unit 320 in another supply unit (not shown) mounted on the frame 131 at the other end of the guide shafts 132 and 134. it can. Thereby, the polymerization inhibitor can be applied throughout the entire length of the guide shafts 132 and 134. Further, the ink mist can be prevented from sticking with the same structure on the sliding surface between the irradiation unit carriage 160 and the guide shafts 136 and 138 for guiding the reciprocation thereof.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing the structure of an ink jet recording apparatus 500 according to another embodiment. As shown in the figure, the ink jet recording apparatus 500 also includes a carriage 530 that reciprocates along a guide shaft 520 disposed between a pair of side frames 512 and 514 parallel to each other. Accordingly, the surface of the guide shaft 520 is a sliding surface with respect to the carriage 530. The side frames 512 and 514 are connected to each other by a back frame 510 parallel to the guide shaft 520.

  On the front surface of the back frame 510, a pair of pulleys 574 and 576 and a timing belt 570 that spans them are disposed. One pulley 574 is rotationally driven by a carriage motor 572. Since the timing belt 570 is coupled to the carriage 530, the carriage 530 can be moved according to the operation of the carriage motor 572.

  The carriage 530 includes a carriage main body 531 inserted through the guide shaft 520 and ink cartridges 532 and 534 that contain ultraviolet curable ink and are mounted on the carriage main body 531. A recording head 550 that discharges ultraviolet curable ink downward is mounted on the lower surface of the carriage body 531. Further, ultraviolet irradiation units 542 and 544 are mounted on the side surface of the carriage body 531.

  On the other hand, a platen 560 having a horizontal upper surface is disposed below the movement range of the carriage 530. Further, although not shown, the ink jet recording apparatus 500 includes a transport mechanism that is driven by a transport motor 590 and transports the recording paper 150 from the back of the back frame 510 toward the front.

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 500 having the above-described structure, one line of image is formed by ejecting ultraviolet curable ink while the carriage 530 moves on the recording paper 150 fed onto the platen 560. By repeating the operation, an image is formed on the entire surface of the recording paper 150. That is, in the ink jet recording apparatus 500, the moving direction of the carriage 530 along the guide shaft 520 is the main scanning direction, and the conveying direction of the recording paper 150 is the sub scanning direction.

  Further, the ink jet recording apparatus 500 includes a supply unit 310 penetrating the guide shaft 520 on the side surface of the carriage 530 and a replenishment unit 210 provided in the vicinity of the guide shaft 520 on the inner surfaces of the side frames 512 and 514. Prepare. Each structure of the supply unit 310 and the replenishment unit 210 has the same structure as that shown in FIG. Therefore, as described above, also in this ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to prevent the ultraviolet curable ink from sticking to the ink mist by supplying a polymerization inhibitor to the sliding surface. In addition, the polymerization inhibitor can be replenished to the supply unit 310 by the replenishment unit 210 to continue the sticking prevention effect.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall structure of an ink jet recording apparatus 100 according to one embodiment. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional structure of a recording unit 120 of the ink jet recording apparatus 100. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the ultraviolet irradiation part 162 independently. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a recording unit carriage 170 alone. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state in which the recording head 180 is viewed from the front. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation in a case where a polymerization inhibitor is supplied from a supply unit 210 to supply units 310 and 320 in the inkjet recording apparatus 100. It is a figure explaining the replenishment operation | movement of the polymerization inhibitor from the replenishment part 210 to the supply part 310. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the inkjet recording device 500 which concerns on other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100, 500 Inkjet recording apparatus, 101 part, 102 cross section, 110 paper feed / discharge unit, 112 paper feed unit, 114 paper discharge unit, 120 recording unit, 130, 131 frame, 132, 134, 136, 138 guide shaft, 140 support drum, 142 rotating shaft, 144 support surface, 150 recording paper, 160 irradiation unit carriage, 162, 542, 544 UV irradiation unit, 165 lamp unit, 164 irradiation unit frame, 170 recording unit carriage, 172, 531 carriage main body, 174 Ink tank, 176, 317 Through hole, 180, 550 Print head, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185 Head unit, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195 Nozzle plate, 210 Replenisher, 212, 214, 315 Cut Notch, 21 6 Holding member, 310, 320 Supply part, 311 Protrusion part, 312 Application member, 313 Tip part, 314 Wiper member, 316 Cap member, 319 Claw part, 510 Back frame, 512, 514 Side frame, 520 Guide shaft, 530 Carriage 532, 534 Ink cartridge, 560 Platen, 570 Timing belt, 572 Carriage motor, 574, 576 Pulley, 590 Conveyance motor

Claims (7)

A guide shaft extending in a certain direction;
A carriage that moves along the guide shaft while sliding relative to the guide shaft;
A recording head mounted on the carriage and ejecting ink having ultraviolet curing properties;
An ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays onto the ink ejected from the recording head and attached to the recording medium, and the ink attached to the recording medium is cured with ultraviolet rays on the surface of the recording medium. A recording device for fixing an image,
A supply unit that holds a polymerization inhibitor that inhibits curing of the ink by ultraviolet rays, and that adheres to the sliding surface that slides relative to the carriage on the guide shaft while moving with the carriage;
A replenishment unit for replenishing the polymerization inhibitor to the supply unit ;
The supply unit includes a porous body impregnated with the polymerization inhibitor and fixed to the carriage in contact with the guide shaft.
Recorder you wherein a.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit holds a lubricant that reduces sliding resistance between the guide shaft and the carriage in a mixed state with the polymerization inhibitor.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit increases or decreases the supply amount of the polymerization inhibitor to the sliding surface according to the amount of ink discharged and the amount of ultraviolet irradiation.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit further includes a wiper member that wipes the polymerization inhibitor excessively attached to the sliding surface.   2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replenishment unit includes a porous body that is impregnated with the polymerization inhibitor and that contacts the supply unit when the carriage moves to a specific position along the guide shaft. .   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the polymerization inhibitor is replenished and supplied in a state of being mixed with a lubricant that reduces sliding resistance on the sliding surface. A guide shaft extending in a certain direction;
A carriage that moves along the guide shaft while sliding relative to the guide shaft;
A liquid ejecting head that is mounted on the carriage and ejects a liquid having ultraviolet curable properties; and an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head and attached to the recording medium with ultraviolet light. A liquid ejecting apparatus that forms an image fixed on the surface of the recording medium by curing the liquid adhering to the medium with ultraviolet rays,
Holding a polymerization inhibitor that inhibits UV curing of the liquid, while moving with the carriage,
A supply unit for attaching the polymerization inhibitor to a sliding surface that slides relative to the carriage in the guide shaft;
A replenishment unit for replenishing the polymerization inhibitor to the supply unit ;
The supply unit includes a porous body impregnated with the polymerization inhibitor and fixed to the carriage in contact with the guide shaft.
A liquid ejecting apparatus you wherein a.

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