JP4929608B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that uses a photocurable ink among inkjet recording apparatuses that perform recording by ejecting ink from a plurality of ejection openings.

  Conventionally, as an image recording apparatus that does not require plate making, ink is ejected from a discharge port provided on the nozzle surface of a recording head toward a recording medium, and light is irradiated from a light source to the landed ink. An ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium by curing is known.

  The ink jet recording apparatus includes a recording head having an array of ejection openings along the recording medium conveyance direction, and the recording head reciprocating and recording in the width direction of the recording medium (direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction). A serial type recording is performed by intermittently conveying the medium, and a recording head having an array of ejection openings along the width direction of the recording medium. A line type that performs recording with conveyance is widely known (Patent Document 1). In particular, the latter line-type inkjet recording apparatus is superior to the former in terms of speeding up recording, and is used in various industrial fields.

  In particular, in the field of the beverage industry and the like, a non-ink-absorbing member such as a resin or metal such as PET is often used as a packaging member, and as an ink jet recording apparatus for recording an image on such a recording medium, the discharge is performed. There is known an ink jet recording apparatus that discharges a photocurable ink such as an ultraviolet curable ink from an outlet, and then appropriately cures ink landed on a recording medium by irradiation with ultraviolet rays (Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in an ink jet recording apparatus using such a photo-curable ink, when indoor light hits the ink adhering to the vicinity of the ejection opening of the recording head, the ink may stick inside the recording head and cause clogging. there were. Generally, the print head is maintained by the suction / discharge operation of the ink in the discharge port, but the ink fixed in the print head is not discharged in the general print head maintenance process. It cannot be removed and the recording head cannot be recovered. In addition, when the cationic polymerization type ink is used, if the ink at the ink discharge port is left exposed to the atmosphere, the water in the ink evaporates and the ink is thickened.

Conventionally, however, a reflective member that does not directly receive light from the light source during recording is arranged and light shielding is attempted by the recording head arrangement method, but there is no particular measure for shielding the recording head itself ( Patent Document 2). Further, as a countermeasure for increasing the viscosity of ink in the recording head, capping is performed to cover the ejection port of the recording head during standby, and the capping is moved outside the image recording area (Patent Document 3).
JP 2004237575 A JP 2004-223750 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-230638

  However, conventional light shielding measures cannot completely prevent reflected light and leakage light into the recording head, and development of a technique for further improving the light shielding performance has been desired. In addition, since the ink thickening countermeasure is moved outside the image recording area each time capping is performed, the configuration in the apparatus tends to be complicated or the entire apparatus tends to be large.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and an ink jet recording apparatus capable of obtaining a high-definition recorded image while improving the light shielding property of the recording head and preventing the viscosity of the ink in the recording head from increasing. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
A rectangular recording head for ejecting photocurable ink;
A support member disposed to face the recording head and supporting a recording medium;
Conveying means for moving the recording medium relative to the recording head;
A light irradiating means for irradiating the photocurable ink on the recording medium with light;
A set of end face side light blocking members arranged along sides parallel to both sides of the support member in the rectangular recording head, and blocking light entering the recording head;
A set of light-shielding members on a side face that are arranged along a side perpendicular to the light-shielding member on the end face side of the rectangular recording head, and shield light entering the recording head;
With
When the recording head is not driven, the set of light shielding members on the end face side and the set of light shielding members on the side surface are arranged in contact with the support member, and at least when the recording head is driven, at least the set of side surfaces. as the light blocking member side can take a position that is not in contact with the said support member, together with the vertically movable in either one of the support member and the pair of side surface of the light shielding member,
The support member is provided with a notch at a contact portion with the light shielding member on the side surface of the set.

According to the invention of claim 1,
A rectangular recording head that discharges photocurable ink; a support member that is disposed to face the recording head and supports the recording medium; and a transport unit that moves the recording medium relative to the recording head. A light irradiating means for irradiating the photocurable ink on the recording medium and a side parallel to both sides of the support member in the rectangular recording head, and enters the recording head. A set of light shielding members on the end face side that blocks light, and a set that blocks light entering the recording head, arranged along a side perpendicular to the light shielding member on the end face side in the rectangular recording head. A light-shielding member on a side surface, and when the recording head is not driven, the pair of light-shielding members on the end surface side and the pair of light-shielding members on the side surface are arranged in contact with the support member, and the recording head The drive of Sometimes such that the light blocking member of at least the one pair of side surface can take a position that is not in contact with the said support member, either one of the support member and the pair of side surface of the light shielding member vertically Since it is configured to be movable , one set of side surfaces arranged along a side orthogonal to the light shielding member on at least the end surface side of the two sets of light shielding members provided along two opposing sides of the recording head The light shielding member can be brought into contact with the support member.
Moreover, since the said support member is provided with a notch part in a contact part with the light shielding member of the said one set of side surface side, a light shielding member can be made to insert a support member into a notch part.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2 is provided.
In claim 1,
The support member is made of an elastic body.

According to the invention described in claim 2, wherein the support member, since an elastic member, the support member is made of a material rich in plasticity, such as an elastic body, a position and a non-contact with the support member of the light shielding member The thing which can take the position which is a contact can contact | adhere closely to a support member, when it contacts a support member.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention provides:
In claim 1 or claim 2,
The support member is a non-movable member whose support surface does not move with the recording medium at least during recording .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the support member is a non-movable member whose support surface does not move with the recording medium at least during recording , the recording medium has a support surface together with the recording medium during recording. Supported by a non-moving member.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention provides:
In claim 1 or claim 2 ,
The support member is a member whose support surface moves together with the recording medium.

According to the invention described in claim 4 , since the support member is a member whose support surface moves together with the recording medium, the recording medium is supported by a member whose support surface moves together with the recording medium.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the invention of claim 5 is:
In claim 1 or claim 2 ,
The support member is a member that winds the recording medium around a support surface.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the support member is a member that winds the recording medium around a support surface, the recording medium is supported by a member that winds the recording medium around the support surface.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the invention of claim 6 is:
In any one of Claims 1-5,
The light shielding member on the side surface of the set is characterized in that at least a contact portion with the support member is made of an elastic body.

According to the invention described in claim 6, at least a contact portion with the support member is made of an elastic body in the pair of side surface side light shielding members. That is, since the pair of side-side light shielding members is made of a material having high plasticity such as an elastic body at least in contact with the support member, the pair of side-side light shielding members come into contact with the support member. In addition, it can be in close contact with the support member.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention provides:
In any one of Claims 1-6,
The pair of light-shielding members on the end face side are non-movable light-shielding members that are in contact with both end portions of the support member and do not move .

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the light shielding members on the end face side of the set are non-movable light shielding members that are in contact with both side end portions of the support member and do not move. The member can always be in contact with both end portions of the support member and prevent light from entering from the end portion of the recording head.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention provides:
In claim 7,
The non-movable light shielding member includes an insertion portion into which the pair of side light shielding members can be inserted.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the non-movable light-shielding member includes an insertion part into which a set of side-surface light-shielding members can be inserted . Compared to the case where the light shielding member is inserted and used, and the light shielding member on the side surface side is not inserted, the light shielding member on the side surface side can be bonded more closely.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the invention of claim 9 is provided.
In any one of Claims 1-8 ,
The recording head is a line system in which an ejection port having a length equivalent to the length in the width direction of the recording medium is formed.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in particular, the recording head is fixed such that the recording head is a line system in which an ejection port having a length equivalent to the length in the width direction of the recording medium is formed. Even if it is a case, the light shielding member according to any one of claims 1 to 8 (that is, the light shielding member capable of taking a position in contact with the support member and a non-contact position or a non-movable type) By bringing the light shielding member into contact with the support member, the recording head can be shielded from light on the support member, and thickening of the ink in the recording head can be prevented.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the invention of claim 10 is:
In any one of Claims 1-9 ,
The light irradiated by the light irradiation means is ultraviolet light.

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the invention of claim 11 is provided.
In any one of Claims 1-10 ,
The photocurable ink is a cationic polymerization ink.

According to the tenth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, the light irradiated by the light irradiating means is an ultraviolet ray, and the photocurable ink is a cationic polymerization type ink. Therefore, the recording medium has no ink absorbability. Even when a material is used, the ultraviolet curable ink on the recording medium can be immediately cured by irradiating with ultraviolet rays. In addition, since the cationic polymerization ink has higher sensitivity to ultraviolet light than the radical polymerization ink, the ink on the recording medium can be efficiently cured by irradiating with low-illuminance ultraviolet light. Therefore, there is a risk that ultraviolet rays are exposed to the cationic polymerization ink adhering to the ink discharge port, causing clogging of the ink discharge port, or evaporation of the ink in the discharge port to increase the viscosity of the ink. .

An ink jet recording apparatus according to the invention of claim 12 is provided.
In any one of Claims 1-11 ,
A plurality of the recording heads are provided, and a head module obtained by modularizing the plurality of recording heads is provided.

According to the twelfth aspect of the invention, since the head module is provided with a plurality of the recording heads and the plurality of recording heads are modularized, the recording heads can be shielded from light for each head module.

According to the invention described in claim 1, wherein the non-driving time of the recording head is disposed in a position where the light blocking member of the shielding member and the pair of side surface side of the pair of end surface is in contact with said support member Runode A closed space in which the recording head is arranged can be formed when the light shielding member on the side surface side and the support member are in contact with each other, and the recording head can be shielded from light. In addition, by forming a closed space, the same effect as capping the discharge port can be obtained, airtightness can be maintained, and ink thickening can be prevented, so that a high-definition recorded image can be obtained. Can do.
Further, the support member, it is possible to insert the light-shielding member of a pair of side face the cutout portion, even if the light blocking member of the pair of side surface is made of a material which does not enriched in plastic, one Direct light incident from a gap at the contact surface with the light shielding member on the side surface side of the set can be blocked, and the light shielding property in the closed space formed at the time of contact with the support member can be further enhanced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the support member is made of a material having high plasticity such as an elastic body, and among the light shielding members, the support member can take a position in contact with the support member and a non-contact position. Can be brought into close contact with the support member, the light shielding property in the closed space formed at the time of contact with the support member can be further enhanced, and at the same time, the airtightness can be further enhanced.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the recording medium is supported by the member whose supporting surface does not move with the recording medium during recording, the position of the light shielding member that contacts the supporting member and the position that does not contact the recording medium are determined. What can be taken is that the support surface can move relative to a member that does not move with the recording medium.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is supported by the member whose support surface moves together with the recording medium, so that the position where the light shielding member is in contact with the support member and the position where it is not in contact can be taken. The object can move relative to a member whose support surface moves together with the recording medium.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the recording medium is supported by the member that wraps the recording medium around the support surface, so that the light shielding member can take a position in contact with the support member and a non-contact position. The object can move relative to the member that winds the recording medium around the support surface.

According to the invention described in claim 6, a pair of side surface of the light shielding member is made of a material contact part of at least the support member rich in plasticity, such as an elastic body, shading of the pair of side surface When the member comes into contact with the support member, it can be brought into close contact with the support member, so that the light shielding property in the closed space to be formed can be further enhanced, and at the same time, the airtightness can be further enhanced.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the pair of light shielding members on the end face side can always come into contact with both end portions of the support member and prevent light from entering from the end portions of the recording head. The recording head can always be shielded from light incident from the end of the recording head. In addition, the movable members can be reduced and the light can be shielded with a simple configuration as compared with the case where the movable light shielding member is provided on each side of the recording head. In addition, when individual recording heads are modularized, light can be shielded with a simple configuration even when the arrangement of the ejection openings in the module is a staggered arrangement.

According to the invention of claim 8, the non-movable shielding member, compared with the case where the light-shielding member of the pair of side surface side is used by being inserted, the light blocking member of the pair of side surface is not inserted, this single Since the light-shielding member on the side surface side of the set can be more closely bonded and joined, the light-shielding property in the closed space to be formed can be enhanced, and at the same time, the airtightness can be further enhanced.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in particular, even when the recording head is a line system in which an ejection port having a length equivalent to the length in the width direction of the recording medium is formed, the recording head is formed on the support member. Can be prevented from thickening the ink in the recording head, so that a device such as a light shielding member or a suction cap is not provided outside the region where the support member is disposed, and the device configuration is simplified. Can do.

According to the tenth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, the ink on the recording medium can be efficiently and appropriately applied by irradiating ultraviolet rays even when the recording medium is made of a material that does not absorb ink. It can be cured and a high-definition recorded image can be obtained. However, during standby, the ink adhering to the vicinity of the ink discharge port is cured by external light, causing a discharge failure due to the clogging of the ink discharge port, or the ink in the ink discharge port evaporates, causing the ink to thicken. There is a fear. Even with such a cationic polymerization type ink, the use of the ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 may cause ejection failure or increase the viscosity of the ink in the recording head. Can be prevented.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since the recording head is shielded for each head module, the recording heads are arranged in a staggered manner in the head module. However, the recording head can be shielded from light with a simple structure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention. The ink jet recording apparatus 1 includes a paper feed tray 2 a on which the recording medium P is stacked, a paper feed roller 2 b that sequentially transports the recording medium P stacked on the paper feed tray 2 a from the top, and the ink jet recording apparatus 1. A pair of transport rollers 2c for transporting the recording medium P and a paper discharge tray 2d for discharging the recording medium P on which image recording has been completed are provided. These members constitute transport means, and a transport motor 2e. (Refer to FIG. 5), the recording medium P in the paper feed tray 2a is transported. In the following description, the direction in which the recording medium P is transported will be described as the transport direction A.

  In addition, a flat platen 3 is fixed and provided inside the inkjet recording apparatus 1 as a support member for supporting the recording medium P conveyed from the paper feed tray 2a. The platen 3 is formed using a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a head fixing plate 4 having a light shielding property is provided above the platen 3. Four recording heads 5 provided with nozzles (not shown) for ejecting ink toward the recording medium P pass through the head fixing plate 4 and correspond to the entire width of the platen 3. It is arranged in a staggered manner. These four recording heads 5 eject ink for any one of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and eject the same color ink. One head module 6 is formed, and the head fixing plate 4 can block light incident on the head module 6 from the upper surface side.

  Further, light shielding members 7 are respectively fixed and provided on both end faces of the head fixing plate 4. The light shielding member 7 is disposed so as to sandwich the both end surfaces of the platen 3 while the lower end portion of the opposing surface is in contact with the platen 3, and blocks light incident from the end surface side of the head module 6. ing.

  Further, light shielding members 9 each having a light shielding plate 8 are provided on both side surfaces of the head fixing plate 4. The light shielding member 9 is configured to move up and down in conjunction with a crankpin 10 described later.

Specifically, a vertical motor 11 is provided on the side of the head fixing plate 4, and the vertical motor 11 rotates a gear 13 connected via an output shaft 12. A transmission shaft 14 provided above the head fixing plate 4 is attached to the gear 13, and a rotating plate 15 is attached to the other end of the transmission shaft 14. Accordingly, the rotating plate 15 is configured to integrally rotate.
A crankpin 10 connected to a rotating plate 15 is attached to the other end of the gear 13, and the crankpin 10 performs a rotational motion in conjunction with the rotation of the gear 13. The above-described light shielding member 9 is attached to the rotating shaft. As shown in FIG. 4, the light shielding member 9 is configured to move up and down as the crank pin 10 moves.

  Further, the light shielding member 9 is arranged so that the light shielding plate 8 can slide while being in close contact with the opposing surface of the light shielding member 7 when moving up and down. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the light shielding member 7 has a notch portion 16 as an insertion portion into which the light shielding plate 8 is inserted on the contact surface with the light shielding plate 8. By inserting the light shielding plate 8 into the portion 16, light incident from the gap between the light shielding member 7 and the light shielding member 9 can be reliably blocked. As shown in FIG. 3B, instead of the notch portion 16, a pair of protrusions 17 are formed as insertion portions on the contact surface of the light shielding member 7 with the light shielding plate 8, and the protrusion 17 The light shielding plate 8 may be inserted between the two.

  Further, the light shielding member 9 is disposed with its vertical position adjusted so that the light shielding plate 8 is not in contact with or in contact with the platen 3 when the light shielding member 9 is moved up and down by these members. A notch portion 18 as shown in FIG. 4 is formed in the portion of the platen 3 that contacts the light shielding plate 8. When the light shielding plate 8 contacts the platen 3, the cutout formed in the platen 3 is formed. It contacts the notch 18.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the cutout portion 18 is formed so that the cutout portion becomes deeper from the downstream side in the transport direction A toward the upstream side, and the cutout portion on the upstream side in the transport direction A. The notch is formed so as to be perpendicular to the support surface of the recording medium P of the platen 3. As a result, when the light shielding plate 8 contacts the platen 3, direct light entering the head module 6 from the gap between the contact surface and the platen 3 can be blocked, and the head module can be blocked from the side surface side of the head module 6. The light incident on the inside 6 can be surely blocked.

  In addition, it is preferable that the light shielding plate 8 is formed of an elastic body such as a felt, a brush, or rubber at least at a portion in contact with the notch 18. Since the contact portion with the platen 3 is formed of an elastic body, the light shielding plate 8 can be brought into close contact with the platen 3, and light entering from the gap with the platen 3 can be more reliably blocked.

  Therefore, the head module 6 is provided with a movable light shielding member 9, a non-movable head fixing plate 4 and a light shielding member 7, and the light shielding plate 8 of the light shielding member 9 is brought into contact with the platen 3. The inside of the head module 6 can form a closed space that is blocked from the outside.

  Further, above the platen 3 and downstream of the head module 6 in the transport direction A, the ink ejected from the recording head 5 and landed on the recording medium P is irradiated with light of a predetermined wavelength, An ultraviolet irradiation device 19 is provided as a light irradiation means for curing the ink. Similar to the recording head 5, the ultraviolet irradiation device 19 is provided corresponding to the entire width of the platen 3, and an ultraviolet light source 20 (see FIG. 5) that irradiates ultraviolet rays as light for curing the ink is provided therein. It has been. In this embodiment, the ultraviolet light source 20 is at least one of a low pressure mercury lamp, a high pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a hot cathode tube, a cold cathode tube, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and the like.

  Further, above the platen 3 and downstream of the ultraviolet irradiation device 19 in the conveyance direction A, the module head 5 and the ultraviolet irradiation device 19 having the same configuration as described above provided above the platen 3 are conveyed. Three are provided in order along the direction A, so that a so-called line type recording head is configured corresponding to the remaining three colors ejected by the inkjet recording apparatus 1.

  The recording medium P used in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is a cut sheet-like recording made of various papers such as plain paper, recycled paper, glossy paper, various fabrics, various non-woven fabrics, resin, metal, glass and the like. Application of a medium is preferable, but a roll-shaped recording medium can also be applied.

  Next, a control configuration in the ink jet recording apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 21 that controls the conveyance motor 2 e, the ultraviolet light source 20, the recording head 5, and the vertical motor 11.

  The control unit 21 controls the transport mechanism so as to control the transport motor 2e so that the recording medium P on the paper feed tray 2a is transported onto the platen 3 and then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 2d. Yes.

  In addition, the control unit 21 controls the ultraviolet light source 20 so as to generate ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet light source 20 of the ultraviolet irradiation device 19.

  Further, the control unit 21 controls the ejection of ink by controlling the recording head 5 based on predetermined image information.

  Furthermore, a head drive detection unit 22 that detects the drive state of the recording head 5 is connected to the control unit 21, and the control unit 21 detects the drive state of the print head 5 detected by the head drive detection unit 22. A signal is input, and the vertical motor 11 is driven based on the detection result to control the vertical movement of the light shielding member 9.

  Specifically, when the recording head 5 starts to be driven, such as when image information is sent to the inkjet recording apparatus 1, the vertical motor 11 is operated, the gear 13 is rotated, and the light shielding member 9 is moved upward. While driving, the state (non-contact state of the light shielding plate 8) is maintained. On the other hand, when the recording head 5 is not driven, the vertical motor 11 is operated, the gear 13 is rotated, the light shielding member 9 is moved downward, and the state (contact state of the light shielding plate 8) is maintained. It has become.

  Next, the operation of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  Normally, the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is in a state in which the recording head 5 is not driven even when the power is turned on when predetermined image information is not sent. Therefore, the head drive detection unit 22 detects that the recording head 5 is not driven, and based on this, the control unit 21 operates the vertical motor 11 to move the light shielding member 9 downward. Then, the light shielding plate 8 is brought into contact with the platen 3, and a closed space is formed in the head module 6 that is blocked from the outside.

  Thereafter, when predetermined image information is sent to the inkjet recording apparatus 1, the control unit 21 moves the light shielding member 9 upward so that the light shielding plate 8 does not contact the platen 3. Thereafter, the control unit 21 turns on the ultraviolet light source 20 and drives the transport motor 2e to transport the recording medium P from the paper feed tray 2a onto the platen 3.

  When the recording medium P reaches the platen 3, the control unit 21 ejects ink from the recording head 5 onto the recording medium P. Thereafter, the ink discharged from the ultraviolet light source 20 to the recording medium P is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and the ink is cured. Thereafter, the recording medium P is separated from the platen 3, and the recording medium P is discharged to the discharge tray. Then, when the image recording is finished and it is detected that no image information is sent, the drive of the recording head 5 is finished. The head drive detection unit 22 detects that the recording head 5 is not driven, and based on this, the control unit 21 operates the vertical motor 11 to move the light shielding member 9 downward again. Then, the light shielding plate 8 is brought into contact with the platen 3, and a closed space that is blocked from the outside is formed in the head module 6.

  As described above, in the inkjet recording apparatus 1, the driving state of the recording head 5 is detected. When the recording head 5 is not driven, the light shielding member 9 of the head module 6 is moved downward and brought into contact with the platen 3. Since a closed space that is blocked from the outside is formed in the head module 6, the interior of the head module 6 is completely different from the incomplete light shielding method in which the inside of the head is shielded by the conventional method of arranging the recording head 5. Can be shielded from light. Therefore, in the standby state of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 in a state where the recording head 5 is not driven, the recording head in which the ink adhering to the vicinity of the nozzles of the recording head 5 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays and the ink is cured, resulting in ejection failure It is possible to prevent the recovery from becoming unrecoverable even when 5 performs the ejection operation. In addition, the inside of the head module 6 can be sealed to prevent the ink in the nozzles of the recording head 5 from evaporating from the surface and increasing the viscosity of the ink. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a high-definition recorded image while improving the light shielding property of the recording head 5 and preventing the viscosity of the ink in the recording head 5 from increasing.

  Further, unlike the conventional configuration in which the recording head 5 is moved outside the image recording area, the light shielding member 9 of the head module 6 is brought into contact with the platen 3 to ensure the light shielding property and the air tightness in the head module 6. Therefore, the moving amount of the head module 6 (or the recording head 5) can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten the time from the detection of the state where the recording head 5 is not driven until the light shielding and airtightness in the head module 6 are secured. Capping can be performed, and adverse effects of ink thickening can be minimized.

  Further, by using the non-movable light shielding member 7 as the light shielding member 7 on the end face side of the head module 6, the movable members can be reduced compared to the case where the movable light shielding member is provided on each side surface of the recording head, and simplified. The light can be shielded with a simple configuration. In addition, when individual recording heads are modularized, light can be shielded with a simple configuration even when the arrangement of the ejection openings in the module is a staggered arrangement.

  Further, since the light shielding property and airtightness in the head module 6 can be ensured on the platen 3, it is not necessary to make the configuration in the apparatus complicated, and the entire apparatus can be prevented from becoming large.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified as appropriate.

  For example, in this embodiment, a platen 3 fixed in the inkjet recording apparatus 1 is provided as a support member, and the support member is a non-movable member whose support surface is not movable at least during recording. However, the support member is cylindrical. Alternatively, the support surface may be a member that moves together with the recording medium P. The support member may be a member such as a cylindrical drum that wraps the recording medium P around the support surface. The support member is not particularly limited as long as it can support the recording medium.

  In the present embodiment, the platen 3 as the support member is made of metal, the notch 18 is formed at the contact position of the platen 3 with the light shielding member 9, and the portion where the light shielding member 9 contacts the platen 3 is elastic. Although the inside of the head module 6 is made a closed space by contacting the light shielding member 9 with the platen 3, the platen 3 may be formed of an elastic body such as felt, brush, or rubber. In this case, it is possible to make the inside of the head module 6 a closed space without forming the contact portion of the light shielding member 9 with the platen 3 with an elastic body or forming the notch 18 on the platen 3. is there.

  Further, the light shielding member 7 on the end face side of the head module 6 may be a movable light shielding member.

  In the present embodiment, the light shielding member is moved to form the closed space with respect to the platen 3 as the support member. However, the light shielding member may be fixed and the support member may be moved. . It is only necessary that the light shielding member and the support member move relative to each other and come into contact with each other.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a configuration including a light shielding member (a head fixing plate 4, a light shielding member 9, and a light shielding member 7) that forms a closed space in the head module 6 of the ink jet recording apparatus 1 including the line type recording head 5. However, the light shielding member may be provided around the head module 6 of the serial recording head.

  In the present embodiment, ink that is cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays is used. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and it may be cured by irradiation with light other than ultraviolet rays. Here, “light” is light in a broad sense, and includes electromagnetic waves such as ultraviolet rays, electron beams, X-rays, visible rays, and infrared rays. That is, the ink used in the present embodiment is applied with a polymerizable compound that is polymerized and cured with light other than ultraviolet light and a photoinitiator that initiates a polymerization reaction between the polymerizable compounds with light other than ultraviolet light. Also good. In the case of using a photocurable ink that is cured by light other than ultraviolet light, a light source that emits the light must be applied instead of the ultraviolet light source 20.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the present invention. 2 is a top view of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. FIG. 3A and 3B are partial cross-sectional views of a portion where the light shielding member 7 and the light shielding member 9 are in contact with each other. 4A is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the light shielding member 9 is not in contact with the platen 3 among the states where the light shielding member 9 moves up and down, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the light-shielding member 9 is contacting the platen 3 among the states which move to (3). 2 is a control configuration diagram of the inkjet recording apparatus 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 2a Paper feed tray 2b Paper feed roller 2c Carrying roller pair 2d Paper discharge tray 2e Carrying motor 3 Platen 4 Head fixing plate 5 Recording head 6 Head module 7 Light shielding member 8 Light shielding plate 9 Light shielding member 10 Crank pin 11 Vertical motor 12 Output shaft 13 Gear 14 Transmission shaft 15 Rotating plate 16 Notch portion 17 Projection portion 18 Notch portion 19 Ultraviolet irradiation device 20 Ultraviolet light source 21 Control unit 22 Head drive detection unit P Recording medium

Claims (12)

A rectangular recording head for ejecting photocurable ink;
A support member disposed to face the recording head and supporting a recording medium;
Conveying means for moving the recording medium relative to the recording head;
A light irradiating means for irradiating the photocurable ink on the recording medium with light;
A set of end face side light blocking members arranged along sides parallel to both sides of the support member in the rectangular recording head, and blocking light entering the recording head;
A set of light-shielding members on a side face that are arranged along a side perpendicular to the light-shielding member on the end face side of the rectangular recording head, and shield light entering the recording head;
With
When the recording head is not driven, the set of light shielding members on the end face side and the set of light shielding members on the side surface are arranged in contact with the support member, and at least when the recording head is driven, at least the set of side surfaces. as the light blocking member side can take a position that is not in contact with the said support member, together with the vertically movable in either one of the support member and the pair of side surface of the light shielding member,
An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein a notch portion is provided in a contact portion between the support member and the light shielding member on the side surface of the set.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is made of an elastic body. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is a non-movable member whose support surface does not move with the recording medium during recording.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is a member whose support surface moves together with the recording medium.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member is a member that winds the recording medium around a support surface. The set of side surfaces of the light shielding member is an ink jet recording apparatus according to claims 1, contact portions of at least the supporting member is characterized by comprising an elastic body in any one of claims 5. 7. The non-movable light-shielding member that does not move because the pair of end-surface light-shielding members are in contact with both side end portions of the support member. Inkjet recording apparatus. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the non-movable light shielding member includes an insertion portion into which the pair of side surface light shielding members can be inserted.   9. The line head according to claim 1, wherein the recording head is a line system in which an ejection port having a length equivalent to a length in a width direction of the recording medium is formed. Inkjet recording device.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light irradiated by the light irradiation unit is ultraviolet light.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photocurable ink is a cationic polymerization ink.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a head module including a plurality of the recording heads, and the plurality of recording heads being modularized.

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