JP4924356B2 - Medium transport device and recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medium conveying apparatus that conveys a medium, and a recording apparatus that includes the medium, represented by a facsimile, a printer, and the like.

  An ink jet printer as an example of a recording apparatus includes an operation of moving a recording head including an ink discharge nozzle for discharging ink onto a recording sheet in a sheet width direction (a direction perpendicular to the recording sheet conveyance direction) and conveying the recording sheet. In addition to the type that performs recording while alternately performing the operation, a number of ink ejection nozzles are arranged to cover the entire width of the paper, and recording is performed only by the operation of transporting the recording medium without moving the recording head. There is a type to perform (a so-called line head system).

  In the latter type, when the configuration using the transport belt is adopted as the configuration of the transport device for transporting the recording paper, the following problems occur. That is, the ink jet recording head needs a capping device that caps the head surface of the recording head and performs suction as necessary in order to maintain and recover the ink ejection performance.

  For this reason, if recording heads that are long in a line in the paper width direction are used, the conveyor belt cannot be arranged. Accordingly, the recording heads are arranged at a predetermined interval in the paper width direction, and the conveying belt is arranged between the adjacent recording heads. Further, if the recording heads are arranged at a predetermined interval in the paper width direction, recording cannot be performed on a portion having the interval. Therefore, a recording head for filling that portion is arranged on the upstream side or the downstream side. In addition, a conveyor belt is disposed between adjacent recording heads.

As described above, a plurality of conveyor belts are arranged at a predetermined interval in the paper width direction so as to avoid a place facing the recording head, and divided into an upstream side and a downstream side, and the upstream side conveyor belt and the downstream side conveyor belt are alternately It is necessary to arrange so that it becomes. The prior art in which the conveyor belt is arranged in this way is described in Patent Document 1, for example. In addition, there is a configuration in which the conveyor belt is not separately arranged on the upstream side and the downstream side, and an example thereof is described in Patent Document 2.
JP 2005-67127 A JP 2004-331272 A

  As described above, the conveyance belts are arranged at intervals in the paper width direction, and when the upstream conveyance belt and the downstream conveyance belt are arranged in a staggered manner, the recording paper having a small paper width is arranged. For example, the upstream conveyor belt may be placed on a plurality of conveyor belts and may be relatively stably conveyed, but the downstream side may be placed on only one conveyor belt. There is a risk of being transported in an unstable state.

  As a result, the meandering of the paper may occur, or the parallelism between the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface of the recording paper may be lost, resulting in a dot position shift and a decrease in recording quality. In addition, the recording paper may be greatly inclined, and the recording paper may collide with the recording head, leading to a paper jam or damage to the recording head.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to arrange the conveyance belts at intervals in the paper width direction, and the upstream conveyance belt and the downstream conveyance belt are alternated. In the medium transporting device arranged as described above, the medium is transported in an appropriate posture and stably regardless of the size of the medium.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a medium transport apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes at least an upstream first transport belt group and a downstream second transport belt group, and configures the first transport belt group. A medium conveying apparatus in which conveying belts and conveying belts constituting a second conveying belt group are alternately arranged in a direction orthogonal to the medium conveying direction, and each conveying belt group has an interval between at least one pair of adjacent conveying belts. However, it is formed narrower than the interval between the other conveyance belts, and the conveyance region where the conveyance belt interval is narrow in the first conveyance belt group and the conveyance region where the conveyance belt interval is narrow in the second conveyance belt group are connected. It is characterized by that.

  According to this aspect, in each conveyance belt group, the interval between at least one pair of adjacent conveyance belts is formed narrower than the interval between the other conveyance belts, and the conveyance region in which the conveyance belt interval in the first conveyance belt group is narrow. Are connected to a transport region having a narrow transport belt interval in the second transport belt group, that is, a transport region having a narrow transport belt interval is formed continuously from the upstream side to the downstream side. By transporting the medium using a transport area with a narrow interval, even a small-sized medium can be transported by a plurality of transport belts, and the medium can be transported in an appropriate posture and stably. it can.

  A medium transport apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the medium transport apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the center position in the direction perpendicular to the medium transport direction of the transport region having a narrow transport belt interval in the first transport belt group. And the center position in the direction orthogonal to the medium transport direction of the transport region where the transport belt interval is narrow in the second transport belt group.

  According to this aspect, since the center positions in the direction orthogonal to the medium conveyance direction of the conveyance areas with a small conveyance belt interval formed in each conveyance belt group coincide with each other, the medium can be surely small. However, it can be transported by a plurality of transport belts.

  A medium conveying apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the medium conveying apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the medium conveyed in the direction orthogonal to the medium conveying direction of the medium conveyed using the conveying area having a small interval between the conveying belts. The center position coincides with the center position in the direction orthogonal to the medium transport direction in the transport region where the transport belt interval is narrow.

  According to this aspect, since the center of the medium transported using the transport area having the narrow transport belt interval coincides with the center of the transport area having the narrow transport belt distance, the left and right ends of the medium are transported. The amount that protrudes outward from the belt is equal to the left and right, so that the medium can be conveyed more stably.

  A medium transport apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the medium transport apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a plurality of transport regions having a narrow transport belt interval are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the medium transport direction. It is provided and configured to be able to transport a plurality of media in parallel.

  According to this aspect, a plurality of conveyance areas having a narrow interval between the conveyance belts are provided in a direction orthogonal to the medium conveyance direction, and a plurality of media can be conveyed in parallel. By doing so, the conveyance efficiency can be improved.

  A recording apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a recording head that performs recording on a medium, and a medium conveying apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. According to this aspect, in the recording apparatus, it is possible to obtain the same functions and effects as those of the first to fourth aspects.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a side view of an essential part of an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) 1 as a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views thereof, and FIG. 4 is a first recording head group. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a recording area by 15 and a second recording head group 16. FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main part of a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the main part of a printer according to another embodiment.

  The printer 1 according to the present invention scans by the recording head by a large number of recording heads (first recording head group 15 and second recording head group 16) in which the ink discharge nozzles are fixedly arranged so as to cover the entire sheet width. This is a high-throughput ink jet printer that employs a so-called line head system that can perform recording on recording paper P as a medium without performing it.

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 includes a feeding unit 17 that feeds the recording paper P, and a medium transport device 2 according to the present invention that transports the recording paper P.
The feeding unit 17 is provided with guides 18 and 18 for guiding both side edges of the recording paper P, thereby restricting the position in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P. The feeding unit 17 includes a gate roller 19 configured to include a driving roller 21 and a driven roller 20, and the gate roller 19 performs an operation for removing the skew of the recording paper P, and the downstream side ( The sheet is fed to the medium conveyance device 2 in the left direction in FIG.

  The medium conveying device 2 includes a first conveying belt group 3 that is engaged between the driving roller 6 and the driven roller 7, and a first conveying belt that is engaged between the driving roller 6 and the driven roller 8 on the downstream side. 2, and the outer peripheral surface of the conveyance belt 5 constituting each belt group forms a conveyance surface for conveying the recording paper P.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a drive motor for driving the drive roller 6. When the drive roller 6 is rotated by receiving power from the drive motor 11, the first conveyor belt group 3 and the second conveyor belt are engaged with the drive roller 6. The group 4 operates in synchronization (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1).

  The conveyor belt 5 constituting each belt group is an insulating belt, and is formed of an insulating resin such as PET, polyimide, or fluorine resin. The conveying belt 5 is charged by charging rollers 9 and 10 to which a voltage is applied by a voltage applying means (not shown), whereby the recording paper P on the conveying surface is electrostatically attracted to the conveying belt 2 and is conveyed in the conveying direction. It is reliably transported to

  In each belt group of the first transport belt group 3 and the second transport belt group 4, the transport belt 5 is in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording paper P (the vertical direction in FIG. 2; hereinafter referred to as “paper width direction”). A plurality of belts are arranged at intervals, which will be described in detail later, and the conveyor belt 5 constituting the first conveyor belt group 3 and the conveyor belt 5 constituting the second conveyor belt group 4 are staggered in the paper width direction. That is, they are arranged in a staggered manner.

  When the sheet conveyance path is viewed in plan, recording heads 15a to 15f are provided between two adjacent conveyance belts 5 constituting the first conveyance belt group 3, and are arranged at one end. A recording head 15g is provided outside the conveying belt 5, and a first recording head group 15 is constituted by these recording heads 15a to 15g.

  Similarly, on the downstream side, recording heads 16b to 16g are provided between two adjacent conveyor belts 5 constituting the second conveyor belt group 4, and a conveyor belt disposed at an end portion on one side. 5 is provided with a recording head 16a, and the recording heads 16a to 16g constitute a second recording head group 16.

  In each recording head, for example, ink discharge nozzles (not shown) of each color such as yellow, magenta, cyan, black, etc. are arranged shifted for each color in the paper transport direction, and a large number of them as described above. When the recording heads are arranged in a staggered manner when the sheet conveyance path is viewed in plan, the ink discharge nozzles cover the entire sheet width for each color.

FIG. 4 schematically shows areas that can be recorded by each recording head. The recording heads 15a to 15g constituting the first recording head group 15 and the recording heads 16a to 16g constituting the second recording head group 16 are shown. Thus, the recording area Ap that covers the entire area in the sheet width direction of the maximum size sheet Pmax that can be conveyed by the medium conveying apparatus 2 (for example, the entire area of the short side of the A3 size sheet) is formed.
As described above, a necessary amount of ink droplets are ejected from each ink ejection nozzle of each recording head, and minute ink dots are formed over the entire width direction of the recording paper P. By performing this for each color, the recording can be completed by only passing the recording paper P adsorbed on the transport belt 2 once.

  Note that a cap (not shown) for sealing each recording head is provided at a position facing each recording head, and the head surface of each recording head is sealed when the printer 1 is in a resting state. Nozzle clogging is prevented. Each cap communicates with a negative pressure generating means (not shown). When negative pressure is supplied into the cap as necessary, ink is sucked from the ink discharge nozzles, and the ink discharge performance is recovered. Figured.

  Next, the arrangement of the conveyor belt 5 in each conveyor belt group will be described in detail. In FIG. 2, reference numerals X 1 a to X 1 f indicate the intervals between adjacent conveyor belts of the conveyor belt 5 constituting the first conveyor belt group 15, and reference numerals X 2 a to X 2 f denote conveyor belts that constitute the second conveyor belt group 16. 5, each interval between adjacent conveyor belts is shown.

  In the first conveyor belt group 15, only the interval X1d is formed to be narrower than the other intervals (X1a to X1c, X1e, X1f), so that the interval between the adjacent conveyor belts 5 is another set of conveyor belts. A conveyance region R1 narrower than the interval of 5 is formed.

  In the second conveyor belt group 16, the intervals X2c, X2d are formed narrower than the other intervals (X2a, X2b, X2e, X2f), so that the intervals between the adjacent conveyor belts 5 are different from each other. A transport region R2 narrower than the distance between the transport belts 5 is formed.

  The recording heads (15d, 16d, 16e) arranged in the transport regions R1, R2 having a narrow spacing between the transport belts have fewer ink ejection nozzles than the other recording heads in accordance with the widths of the transport regions R1, R2. ing.

  The upstream transport region R1 and the downstream transport region R2 are connected, that is, a transport region having a narrow transport belt interval is formed continuously from the upstream side to the downstream side. Note that the center position (the center position in the paper width direction) of the transport area R1 and the center position (the same) of the transport area R2 coincide with each other, and the center line indicated by reference sign CL is the center position.

  Next, in FIG. 2, the symbol Pmin indicates a minimum size recording paper (for example, business card size paper, envelope, postcard, etc.) that can be fed by the feeding section 17 (that is, can be guided by the guides 18 and 18). The recording paper Pmin is guided by the guides 18 and 18 so that the center position (center position in the paper width direction) coincides with the center line CL.

  The positions of the guides 18 and 18 may be displayed by marking or the like, or by operating the guide 18 on one side, the two guides 18 are positioned symmetrically around the center line CL. You may comprise so that it may approach and space apart.

  As described above, even when the recording paper Pmin of the minimum size that can be recorded in the printer 1 is transported, in the example of FIG. 2, the two transport belts 5 are transported by the first transport belt group 3. When transported by the second transport belt group 4, it is transported by the three transport belts 5 as shown in FIG.

  That is, the recording paper P is always transported by the plurality of transport belts 5, whereby all the recording papers of a size scheduled to be recorded by the printer 1 (that is, the recording paper that can be transported by the printer 1) (particularly). Even the smallest recording paper can be transported stably.

  Further, the one side is conveyed in an appropriate posture without dripping drastically, and the recording quality is not deteriorated. Further, when one side is extremely bounced up, it does not collide with the recording head and a paper jam does not occur. In addition, since it is not necessary to narrow all belt intervals, an increase in the number of heads can be prevented.

  In addition, since the center positions of the transport areas R1 and R2 (the center position in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction) and the center position of the recording paper P (the same) are the same, the transport direction of the recording paper P is narrow. On the other hand, the form of the medium mounting surface formed by the plurality of transport belts 5 is symmetrical (with respect to the paper transport direction), and the recording paper P can be transported in a more stable state. Further, since the left and right ends of the recording paper P protrude outward from the conveying belt 5 are equal to each other, it is possible to prevent the recording quality from being deteriorated due to the drooping of one side edge.

  In the embodiment described above, the first transport belt group 3 is formed with a narrow interval between one pair of transport belts, and the second transport belt group 4 is formed with a narrow interval between two transport belts. Needless to say, this is not a limitation.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, two recording sheets P can be simultaneously conveyed in parallel by providing a plurality (two places) of conveyance areas R1 and R2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the sheet width direction. As a result, the recording efficiency can be remarkably improved.

  Also in this embodiment, the central positions of the recording paper P and the transport areas R1 and R2 are coincident, that is, the form of the medium placement surface formed by the plurality of transport belts 5 is bilaterally symmetrical. P can be transported in a more stable state.

  In order to stably convey the recording paper P in a configuration in which the belt intervals are all equal, the positions of the guides 18 and 18 are adjusted so that the recording paper P is conveyed by a plurality of conveying belts in each belt group. It is preferable.

  FIG. 6 shows this. In FIG. 6, the intervals X1a to X1f between the adjacent conveyor belts 5 of the conveyor belt 5 constituting the first conveyor belt group 3 are all the same, and the second conveyor belt group. The intervals X2a to X2f between the adjacent conveyor belts of the conveyor belt 5 constituting 4 are all the same. In such a configuration, by adjusting the positions of the guides 18 and 18, as shown in the drawing, there are cases where the recording paper P can always be transported by a plurality of transport belts in each belt group. Can be realized.

1 is a side view of a main part of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a main part of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a main part of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a recording area formed by a first recording head group and a second recording head group. The principal part top view of the printer which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The principal part top view of the printer which concerns on another form.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet printer, 2 Medium conveying apparatus, 1st conveying belt group, 4th conveying belt group, 5 conveying belt, 6 driving roller, 7, 8 driven roller, 9, 10 charging roller, 11 driving motor, 15 1st Recording head group, 16 Second recording head group, 17 Feed section, 18 Guide, 19 Gate roller, 20 Driving roller, 21 Drive roller, P Recording paper, R1, R2 Conveying area with narrow belt interval

Claims (4)

At least an upstream first conveyor belt group and a downstream second conveyor belt group are provided, and the conveyor belt constituting the first conveyor belt group and the conveyor belt constituting the second conveyor belt group are orthogonal to the medium conveying direction. A medium conveying device arranged alternately in a direction,
In the first transport belt group and the second transport belt group, an interval between at least one pair of adjacent transport belts is formed to be narrower than an interval between other transport belts,
A conveyance region with a narrow conveyance belt interval in the first conveyance belt group and a conveyance region with a small conveyance belt interval in the second conveyance belt group are connected ,
A central position in a direction perpendicular to the medium conveyance direction of the conveyance region having a narrow conveyance belt interval in the first conveyance belt group and a direction perpendicular to the medium conveyance direction in the conveyance region having a small conveyance belt interval in the second conveyance belt group. A medium conveying apparatus characterized in that the center position coincides. 2. The medium conveying apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a medium position in a direction orthogonal to a medium conveying direction of a medium conveyed using the conveying area having the narrow conveying belt interval and the medium in the conveying area having the narrow conveying belt interval are set. A medium conveying apparatus characterized in that a center position in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction coincides. 3. The medium conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of conveying regions having a narrow interval between the conveying belts are provided in a direction perpendicular to the medium conveying direction, and a plurality of media can be conveyed in parallel. A medium conveying apparatus. A recording head for recording on a medium;
Recording apparatus characterized by comprising a, a medium transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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