JP5610011B2 - Inkjet image forming apparatus assembly system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by ejecting ink droplets from an ink jet head (hereinafter also abbreviated as an ink head).

  In recent years, there have been proposals for an ink jet image forming apparatus as described in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below. Patent Document 1 describes an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of image forming units each provided with an ink jet engine that ejects ink droplets are detachably connected.

  In Patent Document 2, a plurality of inkjet print units are arranged at predetermined intervals along the conveyance direction of the continuous paper so that multiple colors can be printed on the front and back of the continuous paper. An inkjet printing system that detects and controls the start of printing of the inkjet printing unit based on the detection signal is described.

  18 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an image forming unit used in the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 20 is an inkjet engine mounted on the image forming unit. It is a perspective view.

  This image forming apparatus is constituted by connecting two image forming units 101a and 101b having substantially the same configuration. The image forming units 101a and 101b respectively include an inkjet engine 102, a paper feed cassette 103, a supply conveyance path 104 that supplies the recording paper S in the paper feed cassette 103 to the inkjet engine 102, and a recording paper S on which an image is formed. A discharge conveyance path 105 for conveying from the inkjet engine 102 is provided inside.

  The image forming units 101a and 101b have a substantially cubic shape as shown in FIG. 19, and a conveyance inlet 106 for the recording paper S is formed on one side surface, and a conveyance outlet (not shown) for the recording paper S on the other side surface. Is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 18, an inkjet engine mounting portion 107 is provided between the supply conveyance path 104 and the discharge conveyance path 105, and the inkjet engine 102 is detachably mounted therein (see FIG. 19). The ink jet engine 102 is provided with ink cassettes 108 that individually store yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) inks. They are connected by a supply path 109 (see FIG. 18).

  As shown in FIG. 20, the inkjet engine 102 includes a carriage 110, a drive motor 111 that moves the carriage 110 in the main scanning direction, a conveyance belt 112 that conveys the recording paper S, a conveyance roller 113, and the like.

  The carriage 110 is provided with an ink head (not shown) having a number of ejection openings on the lower surface for each of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) colors. . The conveyor belt 112 is rotationally driven by a drive motor 114.

  For example, a line image can be printed by the image forming unit 101a, and a character image can be printed by the image forming unit 101b on the downstream side to form one image. Thus, by sharing printing by the image forming unit 101a and the image forming unit 101b, it is possible to increase the speed of printing and increase the degree of freedom of image formation.

  In the ink jet printer market, demands for higher printing speed, higher printing quality, and higher image quality are increasing, and the requirements (specifications) are various. If the models corresponding to each specification are manufactured separately, the manufacturing becomes complicated and the development cost for each model is high. In recent years, there has been a demand for an image forming apparatus whose functions can be easily expanded or changed, and reduction in machine downtime has become an issue as the speed increases.

  Also in the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 18 to 20, the image forming unit 201 has a configuration in which an inkjet engine 102, a paper feed cassette 103, a supply conveyance path 104, a discharge conveyance path 105, and the like are integrally incorporated. Therefore, when considering various specifications of the image forming apparatus as in the present invention described later, there is no unit that can be shared, and therefore there is a problem that it is difficult to easily expand or change the function.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus having a high degree of freedom in expanding and changing functions corresponding to specifications.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
An assembly system of an ink jet image forming apparatus in which a paper feed conveyance unit, an image forming unit, and a paper discharge unit are arranged and connected along a conveyance direction of a long recording medium,
As the image forming unit,
A first inkjet head loaded with ink of a first color different from the second to fourth colors described later, and a second color different from the first color and the third and fourth colors described later A second ink-jet head loaded with a second ink, a third ink-jet head loaded with an ink of a third color different from the first, second and fourth colors described later; A single imaging unit comprising a fourth inkjet head loaded with an ink of a fourth color different from the third color;
A first image forming unit having a first ink jet head loaded with the first color ink, a second ink jet head loaded with the second color ink, and the third color ink. A double image forming unit assembly comprising a loaded third ink jet head and a second image forming unit having a fourth ink jet head loaded with the fourth color ink;
A first imaging unit having a first inkjet head loaded with the first color ink; a second imaging unit having a second inkjet head loaded with the second color ink; A third image forming unit having a third ink jet head loaded with the third color ink; and a fourth image forming unit having a fourth ink jet head loaded with the fourth color ink. and 4 has a continuous cropping image unit assembly,
Is selected in accordance with the specifications of the image forming apparatus is assembled, the single image forming unit, the two continuous cropping image unit assembly and the 4 continuous cropping image unit current one of the imaging units of the polymer is, the sheet feed conveying unit and The image forming apparatus is configured to be separably connected to the paper discharge conveyance unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, according to the specifications of the image forming apparatus to be assembled, the image forming unit is selected from a single image forming unit, a two-unit image forming unit group, and a four-unit image forming unit group. Since the image forming apparatus is configured by detachably connecting the image unit to the paper feed transport unit and the paper discharge transport unit, an assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus with a high degree of freedom for function expansion and change according to specifications is provided. Can be provided.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating various units of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first specification. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between each ink cassette and an ink head of the image forming apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on a 2nd specification. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 3rd specification. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a nozzle surface of an ink head used in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a nozzle surface of an ink head used in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the connection relation of each ink cassette and ink head of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between each image forming unit of the image forming apparatus and a host device. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a relationship between each image forming unit of the image forming apparatus and a host device. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram seen from the plane of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram seen from the side of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus proposed conventionally. 2 is a perspective view of an image forming unit used in the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a perspective view of the inkjet engine mounted in the image forming unit.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an inkjet image forming apparatus and an image forming apparatus assembly system according to embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing various units of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is an apparatus that forms an image by an ink jet recording method.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus is provided with a paper feeding / conveying unit 2, a plurality of types of image forming units 3a to 3c, and a paper discharging / conveying unit 4. The image forming apparatus is shipped from the factory or upgraded by the user. For example, a necessary unit is selected from the image forming units 3a to 3c according to the specifications, and the image forming apparatus is configured by combining them. The paper feeding / conveying unit 2 and the paper discharging / conveying unit 4 are commonly used in each image forming apparatus.

  The sheet feeding / conveying unit 2 includes an infeed roller 5, a nip roller 6, a plurality of guide rollers 7, a motor (not shown) for driving the infeed roller 5, and the like. A web outlet 8 is formed on one side surface of the sheet feeding / conveying unit 2, and a caster 9 with a stopper is provided below the sheet feeding / conveying unit 2. The paper feeding / conveying unit 2 has various functional units such as a web meandering correction mechanism and a web neutralization or cleaning mechanism, but these are not shown because they are not directly related to the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, two types of image forming units 3 are prepared which are the image forming units 3a and 3b and the image forming unit 3c, and these have the same structure. That is, a cassette mounting part 11 for mounting four ink cassettes 10 on the upper part of the unit, four ink heads 12 mounted on the lower part of the cassette mounting part 11, and the vicinity of the lower surface of the ink head 12. A plurality of platen rollers 13 for conveying and guiding the web 1, an ink receiver 14 for ink trial hitting, and an ink supply path (not shown) for supplying ink in the ink cassette 10 to the ink head 12 are provided inside. Yes.

  Further, a web inlet 15 is formed on one side surface of the image forming unit 3, a web outlet 16 is formed on the opposite side surface, and a caster 17 with a stopper is provided below the image forming unit 3. .

  The image forming units 3a and 3b are used as one set, and two ink cassettes 10 containing yellow (Y) and magenta (M) inks are mounted side by side on the image forming unit 3a, and the ink heads are matched accordingly. 12 for yellow (Y) and two for magenta (M) are mounted side by side. Two ink cassettes 10 containing cyan (C) and black (K) inks are mounted side by side in the image forming unit 3b, and the ink heads 12 are also used for cyan (C) and black (K) accordingly. Are mounted side by side.

  On the other hand, the image forming unit 3c is mounted with the ink cassettes 10 storing yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) inks one by one. Heads 12 are also mounted side by side for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) one by one.

  The paper discharge conveyance unit 4 includes an outfeed roller 18, a nip roller 19, a plurality of guide rollers 20, a motor (not shown) for driving the outfeed roller 18, and the like.

  A web inlet 21 is formed on one side surface of the paper discharge conveyance unit 4, and a caster 22 with a stopper is provided below the paper discharge conveyance unit 4. The paper discharge conveyance unit 4 has a drying means for drying the ink and the like, but is not shown because it is not directly related to the present invention.

  The height H1 from the floor 23 of the web outlet 8 of the paper feeding / conveying unit 2 is substantially equal to the height H2 of the web inlet 15 of the adjacent image forming unit 3a (H1≈H2). The height H3 of the web outlet 16 of the image forming unit 3a is substantially equal to the height H4 of the web inlet 15 of the image forming unit 3b (H3≈H4). The height H5 of the web outlet 16 of the image forming unit 3b is substantially equal to the height H8 of the web inlet 21 of the paper discharge transport unit 4 (H5≈H8). Further, the height H1 of the web outlet 8 of the paper feeding / conveying unit 2 and the height H6 of the web inlet 15 of the image forming unit 3c are substantially equal (H1≈H6). The height H7 of the web outlet 16 of the image forming unit 3c is substantially equal to the height H8 of the web inlet 21 of the paper discharge transport unit 4 (H7≈H8). The heights H1 to H8 can all be substantially equal (H1≈H2≈H3≈H4≈H5≈H6≈H7≈H8).

  When an image forming apparatus is formed by combining the paper feeding / conveying unit 2 and the paper discharging / conveying unit 4 with the image forming unit 3 interposed therebetween, for example, the paper feeding / conveying unit 2 and the discharge unit are positioned for positioning between the units. Convex portions 24 and 25 are provided on the joint surface side of the paper transport unit 4, and concave portions or holes (not shown) into which the convex portions 24 and 25 are fitted are formed on the joint surface side of the image forming unit 3. It is also possible to provide a convex portion on the joint surface side of the image forming unit 3 and to form a concave portion or a hole on the joint surface side of the paper feed transport unit 2 and the paper discharge transport unit 4.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the first specification. In this specification, the image forming apparatus 201 is configured by interposing a unit assembly of the image forming unit 3 a and the image forming unit 3 b between the paper feeding and conveying unit 2 and the paper discharging and conveying unit 4. As shown in the figure, the paper feeding / conveying unit 2, the image forming unit 3a, the image forming unit 3b, and the paper discharging / conveying unit 4 are arranged in this order along the conveying direction (indicated by arrows) of the web 1, and positioning between the units In addition, the units are detachably connected by, for example, bolts and nuts, and the adjacent web outlet and web inlet are matched.

  The continuous web 1 wound in the form of a roll is imaged from the paper feeding / conveying unit 2 at a high speed of, for example, about 150 m / min by the cooperation of the infeed roller 5 and the nip roller 6 of the paper feeding / conveying unit 2. It is conveyed to the units 3a and 3b. The ink color arrangement in the image forming unit 3a is YYM-M along the conveyance direction of the web 1, and the ink color arrangement in the image formation unit 3b is C-C-K-K along the conveyance direction of the web 1. Yes, that is, the ink head 12 in which the same color is arranged for every two colors is mounted. A mechanism for supplying ink from the ink cassette 10 corresponding to each color to the ink head 12 and an ink path are provided inside.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between each ink cassette 10 and the ink head 12 of the image forming apparatus 201. In the case of the image forming apparatus 201, the ink color arrangement of the ink head 12 is YYMM, CCKK along the conveyance direction of the web 1. Similarly, two ink cassettes 10 and two ink heads 12 of the same color are arranged in proximity to each other as YYMM and CCCK.

  As shown in the drawing, two ink supply paths 25a and 25b extend from the first Y ink cassette 10a and are connected to the first Y ink head 12a and the second Y ink head 12b. Further, two ink supply paths 25c and 25d extend from the second Y ink cassette 10b and are connected to the first Y ink head 12a and the second Y ink head 12b.

  With this configuration, the ink cassettes 10a and 10b can be shared. For example, even when the ink cassette 10a becomes empty, ink can be supplied from the other ink cassette 10b and printing can be continued. Time can be shortened.

  The connection relationship between the ink cassette 10 and the ink head 12 is the same in M, C, and K, and is shown only in the drawing, and the description thereof is omitted. In this figure, since the drawing is complicated, the display of a valve provided in the middle of the ink supply path, a level sensor for detecting the remaining amount attached to the ink cassette 10 and an empty sensor is omitted.

  The web 1 on which a color image is formed by the image forming units 3a and 3b is discharged from the paper discharge and transport unit 4 by the cooperation of the outfeed roller 18 and the nip roller 19, and is rolled or folded according to the final product form. Or sheet. A predetermined tension (tension) is applied to the web 1 while passing from the paper feed transport unit 2 to the paper discharge transport unit 4 by a tension applying means (not shown) in order to suppress fluttering.

  The same applies to the image forming apparatus described below, but the web 1 is given a predetermined tension on the transport path in the path from the web 1 to the discharge transport unit 4 through the image forming unit 3 through the image forming unit 3. In this state, the image forming unit 3 is guided so as to pass through the upper positions of the paper feeding / conveying unit 2 and the paper discharging / conveying unit 4 on both sides of the image forming unit 3 so that the web 1 is surely in contact with the platen roller 13. It has become. The position of the platen roller 13 can be adjusted in the vertical direction so as to be orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the web 1, and the vertical position of the platen roller 13 according to the number of connected image forming units 3 and the tension of the web 1. The web 1 is surely in contact with each platen roller 13. The vertical position of the platen roller 13 is adjusted, for example, with screws and springs.

  The web 1 to which tension is applied is surely brought into contact with the platen roller 13 to prevent the web 1 from fluttering and to improve (ensure) the gap accuracy between the ink head 12 and the web 1 to improve the accuracy of the ink landing position. A high-quality image can be formed.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the second specification. In this specification, the image forming apparatus 202 is configured with a single image forming unit 3 c interposed between the paper feed transport unit 2 and the paper discharge transport unit 4. As shown in the figure, the sheet feeding / conveying unit 2, the image forming unit 3c, and the sheet discharging / conveying unit 4 are arranged in this order along the conveying direction of the web 1, and positioning between the units is performed. And a nut or the like so as to be separable, and the adjacent web outlet and web inlet are matched.

  Since the ink color arrangement of the ink head 12 is Y-M-C-K along the conveyance direction of the web 1, the ink color arrangement of the ink cassette 10 is similarly Y-M-C-K and the same color. The ink cassette 10 and the ink head 12 are arranged close to each other.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the third specification. In this specification, the image forming apparatus 203 is configured by interposing two image forming units 3 c between the paper feed transport unit 2 and the paper discharge transport unit 4. As shown in the figure, the paper feeding / conveying unit 2, the image forming unit 3c, the image forming unit 3c, and the paper discharging / conveying unit 4 are arranged in this order along the conveying direction of the web 1, and positioning between each unit is performed. The units are detachably connected by bolts and nuts, for example, and the adjacent web outlet and web inlet are matched.

  As shown in the figure, when the color arrangement of the two image forming units 3c and 3c is the same as that of YMCCK and YMCCK, the ink cassette 10 of the same color is replaced with two ink heads 12. In the case of sharing between the ink paths, it is necessary to make one of the ink paths longer or straddle the image forming unit 3c. By making the specifications as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the above-described difficulties can be solved.

  In the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a roll mounting unit for mounting the roll of the web 1 before image formation is provided separately from the paper feed transport unit 2. It is also possible to provide a roll mounting part. Further, although the post-processing mechanism for post-processing the image-formed web 1 is provided separately from the paper discharge transport unit 4, the post-processing mechanism can be provided in the paper discharge transport unit 4.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the image forming apparatus 204 according to this embodiment, in addition to the image forming units 3 a and 3 b, a special color image forming unit 3 d specially used by the user is interposed between the paper feed and transport unit 2 and the paper discharge and transport unit 4. Has been. In the present embodiment, a special color image forming unit 3d is disposed downstream of the image forming units 3a and 3b in the web conveyance direction. By using the special color image forming unit 3d in this way, it is possible to diversify the colors and form a higher quality image.

  When the number of image forming units 3 interposed between the paper feeding / conveying unit 2 and the paper discharging / conveying unit 4 increases, the web 1 does not contact the platen roller 13 in the image forming unit 3 or the contact is unstable. Something comes out. In order to solve this problem, in the present embodiment and thereafter, the web 1 is transported in the image forming unit configured by arranging the plurality of image forming units by adjusting the vertical position of the platen roller 13 in each image forming unit 3. The locus is set in an arc shape so that the central portion protrudes upward as shown in the figure.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the image forming apparatus 205 according to this embodiment, four image forming units 3 e to 3 h are interposed between the paper feed transport unit 2 and the paper discharge transport unit 4.

  The ink color array of the ink head 12 in the image forming unit 3e is YYYY, the ink color array of the ink head 12 in the image forming unit 3f is MMMM, and the ink head 12 in the image forming unit 3g. The ink color array is C-C-C-C, and the ink color array of the ink head 12 in the image forming unit 3h is KK-K-K. That is, four ink heads 12 for each color are mounted. . The printing speed of the image forming apparatus 205 according to this embodiment is set to about 210 m / min.

  Although not shown, in the case of the image forming apparatus 205 according to this embodiment, the same color ink cassette 10 is shared between the two ink heads 12, and the ink supply path between the ink cassette 10 and the ink head 12 is as follows. This is substantially the same as that shown in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 201 shown in FIG. 2 has twice as many ink heads 12 of the same color as the image forming apparatus 202 shown in FIG. 4, and the image forming apparatus 204 shown in FIG. Therefore, when the printing resolution in the web conveyance direction is the same, theoretically, high-speed printing can be performed twice or four times, respectively.

  Therefore, the user who does not require the printing speed so much (for example, the printing speed is about 70 m / min) can be provided with the image forming apparatus 202 shown in FIG. 4 to reduce the cost and installation space. On the other hand, for users who request high-speed printing (for example, about 150 m / min or about 210 m / min), the image forming apparatus 201 shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 203 shown in FIG. 7 can be provided.

  Further, when there is a further high-speed printing request from a user who has used the image forming apparatus 202, the paper feed transport unit 2 and the paper discharge transport unit 4 are used as they are, and the image forming unit 3 is appropriately selected to be connected. The image forming apparatuses 201, 203, and 205 can be upgraded. In this case, since it is not necessary to replace the entire apparatus, it is possible to reduce the time spent for carrying in and installing in addition to the cost, shortening the machine downtime, and increasing the degree of freedom of function expansion and change according to specifications.

  2, 4, and 7, if the ink color arrangement information (print color order) is the same when the number of the image forming units 3 is one and the number of the image forming units 3 is plural (in the above embodiment, both are Y , M, C, K)), an appropriate printing color order can be maintained from the viewpoint of image quality, and color image processing can be shared between the single image forming unit 3 and the multiple image specifications. is there.

  Next, the relative positional accuracy between the ink heads 12 of the same color will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the nozzle surface of the ink head 12 used in the image forming apparatus 201 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the first Y ink head 12a and the second Y ink head 12b are fixed on one base 26a in parallel and adjacent to each other. The ink head 12 includes a number of nozzles 27 arranged in a width direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the web 1 conveyance direction to form a line head.

  For positioning of the ink head 12 with respect to the base 26, methods such as abutment between positioning processing surfaces and fitting of positioning pins and positioning holes (both not shown) can be considered, but in the case of FIG. Since they are adjacent and fixed on the same base 26a, the relative position error between the nozzles 27 between the first Y ink head 12a and the second Y ink head 12b can be suppressed. The position error δ in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the web 1) becomes smaller. This is also true between the ink heads 12 of other colors.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the nozzle surface of the ink head 12 used in the image forming apparatus 202 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the first Y ink head 12a is fixed on one base 26a, and the second Y ink head 12b is fixed on the other base 26b. Therefore, a position error δ ′ between the base 26a and the base 26b is added, and as a result, the position error δ in the main scanning direction between the nozzles 27 is increased. This is also true between the ink heads 12 of other colors.

  Further, when the temperature inside the apparatus rises due to continuous printing or the like, as the distance between the ink heads 12a and 12b increases as shown in FIG. 9, the temperature difference is likely to increase and the difference in thermal expansion also increases. The position error δ is easily enlarged.

  In FIG. 8, since the positional error in the main scanning direction of the nozzle 27 in the ink head 12 of the same color is small, a redundancy effect can be expected. That is, when one of the two nozzles 27 on the same line in the main scanning direction cannot be ejected and the corresponding pixel is shot by the other nozzle 27, the adjacent pixel is shot by the nozzle 27 of the separate ink head 12. However, the pitch error between pixels can be kept small.

  Further, it is possible to strike the same pixel position from the two nozzles 27, and the multi-valued droplets can be increased. For example, in the case of a nozzle that can classify the size of a droplet into two types, large and small (small and large), the size of the droplet discharged from each nozzle 27 when the same pixel is shot by the two nozzles 27. The size of the pixel can be arbitrarily controlled by controlling the ejection such as small and small.

  Although the description of the above-described effect has been described for the main scanning direction, the same can be said for the sub-scanning direction. For this reason, the ink color arrangement shown in FIG. 8 has the advantage that the accuracy can be improved and a high-quality image can be recorded.

  In the above example, one ink head 12 is used for one color, and the ink color arrangement switching between the ink heads 12 has been described. For example, an ink head having a plurality of nozzle rows such as four rows is used, and each nozzle row is independent. When the image forming unit having the ink supply path is used, it is possible to switch the ink color arrangement in units of nozzle rows in the ink head, and in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 10 is a view showing a modified example (fourth embodiment) of the connection relationship between each ink cassette 10 and the ink head 12 shown in FIG.

  This modification will be described by taking a yellow (Y) ink supply path as an example. Between the first and second Y ink cassettes 10a and 10b and the first and second Y ink heads 12a and 12b, first and second Y sub ink cassettes 28a and 28b are installed.

  A first ink supply path 29a extending from the first Y ink cassette 10a toward the first and second Y sub-ink cassettes 28a, 28b is branched in the middle, and the first and second Y ink heads 12a, The valve 30 is installed in the middle of the branched supply path connected to 12b. Similarly, a second ink supply path 29b extending from the second Y ink cassette 10b toward the first and second Y sub-ink cassettes 28a and 28b is branched in the middle, and the first and second Y ink heads are branched. A valve 30 is installed in the middle of the branched supply path connected to 12a and 12b.

  Further, the third ink supply path 29c extends from the first Y sub-ink cassette 28a toward the first Y ink head 12a, and the second Y sub-ink cassette 28b extends toward the second Y ink head 12b. Four ink supply paths 29d extend.

  An ink cassette empty sensor 31 is attached to the Y ink cassettes 10a and 10b, and a sub ink cassette level sensor (for remaining amount detection) 32 and a sub ink cassette empty sensor 33 are installed in the Y sub ink cassettes 28a and 28b, respectively. .

  When a low ink level is detected by the sub ink cassette level sensor 32 as in the first Y sub ink cassette 28a, the valve 30 is opened to replenish ink from the Y ink cassette 10a. FIG. 10 shows a state in which ink is supplied to the first Y sub-ink cassette 28a, and the valve 30 at the right end is open and the other valves 30 are closed as viewed in the drawing.

  Further, when the ink cassette empty sensor 31 detects the ink cassette empty as in the first Y ink cassette 10a, the ink cassette to be used is switched to another ink cassette of the same color (in this case, the second Y ink cassette 10b). . For an empty ink cassette (in this case, the first Y ink cassette 10a), an empty alarm is displayed on an operation panel (not shown) of the image forming apparatus. The operator replaces the first Y ink cassette 10a with a new one according to this display.

  The ink cassette is used continuously until empty. That is, the ink cassettes of the same color are used up sequentially, so that even if the ink cassette is replaced with a new one and the empty state is canceled as described above, the ink cassette after switching (in the above example, the second Y ink cassette 10b ) Is not empty, the next ink cassette is not switched.

  By sequentially switching the ink cassettes in this way, it is possible to avoid a plurality (all) of ink cassettes being empty at the same time, and to avoid printing stop due to ink empty as much as possible. Machine downtime can be reduced.

  Further, even if all the ink cassette empty sensors 31 of the same color detect ink cassette empty, if there is ink in the sub ink cassette 28 of the same color, redundant printing is performed by reducing the printing speed.

  When the ink cassette empty sensor 31 and the sub ink cassette empty sensor 33 of the same color all detect ink cassette empty, an ink empty error (printing stop) is displayed on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus This mechanism automatically stops the printing operation.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a relationship between an image forming unit and a host device.

  As shown in FIG. 12, each ink cassette 10 has a chip 34 on which color information of ink stored in the cassette is recorded. When the ink cassette 10 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 11 of the image forming apparatus, a color information detection sensor 35 is installed in advance at a position facing the chip 34 in the vicinity.

  The color information detection means is not limited to the above-described chip system, but a system that detects the color of the ink or ink cassette label with a sensor, and the shape of the ink cassette is sorted by color, and the difference in the shape is detected by a photosensor or micro-sensor. Various methods such as a method of detecting with a switch can be applied.

  In the case of this embodiment, four ink cassettes 10 containing yellow (Y) ink are stored in the first image forming unit 3e, and magenta (M) ink is stored in the second image forming unit 3f. The four ink cassettes 10 stored in the third image forming unit 3g have four ink cassettes 10 containing cyan (C) ink in the fourth image forming unit 3h. The four ink cassettes 10 containing the ink (1) are mounted.

  Each color information detection sensor 35 detects whether the ink cassette 10 is mounted / not mounted and the color information of the chip 34. Whether or not the ink cassette 10 is mounted can be determined by the presence or absence of a detection signal from the color information detection sensor 35. In the present embodiment, the color information detection sensor 35 also serves as a sensor for mounting / non-mounting the ink cassette 10, but it is also possible to detect mounting / non-mounting of the ink cassette 10 by another sensor. The configuration in which the color information detection sensor 35 simultaneously detects the mounting / non-mounting of the ink cassette 10 as in the present embodiment can reduce the number of parts and the cost.

  Information from the color information detection sensor 35 is temporarily stored in a data processing unit 39 provided for each image forming unit 3, and ink color arrangement information of the image forming unit 3 is created based on the stored color information. The For example, if four ink cassettes 10 containing yellow (Y) ink are normally mounted in the first image forming unit 3e, the ink color arrangement information is YYYYY, but is different. If the ink cassette 10 containing the color ink is erroneously attached, the ink color arrangement information is, for example, Y-M-Y-Y. From the data processing unit 39, information on whether or not the ink cassette 10 is mounted and ink color arrangement information are transmitted from the first image forming unit 3 to the host device 36 in order.

  Based on the ink color arrangement information and the print data, the host device 36 creates individual drive control data for the image forming unit 3 and transmits it to each image forming unit 3. In each image forming unit 3, each ink head 12 is driven based on the drive control data, and ink droplets are ejected and landed on the conveyed web 1 to form a color image.

  If the ink color arrangement information received by the host apparatus 36 is YM-C-K, the host apparatus 36 conforms to the specification of the image forming apparatus 202 (see FIG. 4) in which only one image forming unit 3 is connected. It is determined that there is a drive control data that meets the specifications, and is transmitted.

  When the color arrangement information received by the host apparatus 36 is YY, MM, CC, or KK, the host apparatus 36 has a high-speed image forming apparatus in which two image forming units 3 are connected. 201 (see FIG. 2), and drive control data suitable for the specification is created and transmitted.

  When the color arrangement information received by the host device 36 is YYMM, CCKK, or S1-S1-S2-S2, the host device 36 uses the special color image forming unit. 3 is determined to be the specification of the connected image forming apparatus 204 (see FIG. 6), and drive control data matching the specification is created and transmitted.

  If the ink color arrangement information received by the host device 36 is YYYYY, MMMMM, CCCCC, or KKKK, the host device In 36, it is determined that the specifications of the image forming apparatus 205 (see FIG. 7) of ultra-high-speed specifications in which four image forming units 3 are connected, and drive control data matching the specifications is created and transmitted.

  In the present invention, the printing speed is divided into three patterns of low speed (for example, about 70 m / min), high speed (for example, about 150 m / min), and ultra-high speed (for example, about 210 m / min) depending on the number of connected image forming units 3.

  Driving of the paper feeding / conveying unit 2 and the paper discharging / conveying unit 4 is also controlled by the host device 36, and the infeed roller 5, the outfeed roller 18 and the like are driven and controlled so that the web conveying speed meets the above-mentioned specifications. .

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention that can be in various specification forms depending on the number of connected image forming units 3 and the like, the colors filled in the ink heads 12 at the time of factory shipment and when the user upgrades, etc. It is not necessary to set information in the host device 36 each time, and the working time can be reduced.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the information of each image forming unit 3 is individually transmitted to the host device 36. In this case, the image forming unit 3 has one output connector, and the host device 36 has as many input connectors as the number of connected image forming units 3 (four in the case of FIG. 11). Good. The host apparatus 36 can analyze the received information and recognize the color arrangement information of the image forming unit 3 and the specifications of the image forming apparatus.

  For example, the web 1 presence / absence information (whether or not the web 1 is set or whether or not a jam has occurred), the web 1 width dimension information, Information on the web 1 such as thickness information of the web 1, position information (scanning direction) of the web 1 (edge), feed speed information of the web 1, error information such as device failure or disconnection, and the like are transmitted.

  As described above, each image forming unit 3 only needs to have one connector for outputting information to the host device 36. Therefore, the configuration and the control circuit are simple and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since each image forming unit 3 has the same information transmission system, development costs can be reduced.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a relationship between an image forming unit and a host device. The difference between the present embodiment and the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 is that the information of each image forming unit 3 is transmitted between the image forming units 3 to be linked, and is temporarily aggregated into one of them, and then the host device 36. It is the point which is the structure which transmits to.

  In the case of the embodiment shown in this figure, information on the image forming unit 3h is notified to the image forming unit 3g, and the image forming unit 3g records the information in a memory in the data processing unit 39. The image forming unit 3g notifies the image forming unit 3f of information on the image forming units 3h and 3g, and the image forming unit 3f records the information on the memory in the data processing unit 39. The image forming unit 3f notifies the image forming unit 3e of information on the image forming units 3h, 3g, and 3f, and the image forming unit 3e records the information on the memory in the data processing unit 39. The image forming unit 3e collects information including its own information, analyzes the information, recognizes the mounting / non-mounting information, the color arrangement information, and the specifications of the image device, and then sends the information to the host device 36. To transmit. When the information is collected by the image forming unit 3e, it is transmitted to the host device 36, and the host device 36 can recognize the mounting / non-mounting information, the color arrangement information, and the specifications of the image device.

  In the present embodiment, information is added sequentially from the image forming unit 3h, and the image forming unit 3e aggregates the information. The collected information is transmitted to the host device 36. For example, information on the image forming unit 3h is generated. Simultaneously with the image unit 3g, the information about the image forming unit 3e is notified to the image forming unit 3f, and the image forming unit 3f notifies the image forming unit 3g including its own information and information about the image forming unit 3e. The image forming unit 3g may collect information including its own information, and transmit the collected information from the image forming unit 3g to the host device 36. In this way, information can be transmitted in parallel.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, information is sequentially added from the paper discharge conveyance unit 4 installed at the most downstream in the conveyance direction of the web 1, and these are added by the paper feed conveyance unit 2 installed at the most upstream in the conveyance direction of the web 1. The information is aggregated and the aggregated information is transmitted to the host device 36.

  The transmission of information is not limited to this. For example, information is collected in the order of the paper discharge transport unit 4, the image forming unit 3h, and the image forming unit 3g, and at the same time, the paper feed and transport unit 2, the image forming unit 3e, and the image forming unit are collected. The information is collected in the order of the units 3f, the information is aggregated by the imaging unit 3f or the imaging unit 3g, and the aggregated information is transmitted from the imaging unit 3f or the imaging unit 3g to the host device 36. Good. In this way, information can be transmitted in parallel.

  In the sixth and seventh embodiments, the information transmission between the image forming units 3 may be performed by installing an input / output connector in each image forming unit 3 and connecting the connectors by signal lines. An input / output connector may be installed on the side surface of the image forming unit 3, and the connectors may be directly connected (inserted).

  In the sixth and seventh embodiments, since the apparatus specifications can be recognized and determined in the image forming apparatus, for example, test printing can be performed without a host apparatus, and maintenance can be improved. Further, the wiring for information transmission can be shortened, the cost can be reduced, and the complexity of the wiring can be eliminated.

  In the image forming system according to the present invention in which the pattern of the ink color arrangement information of each image forming unit 3 can have various specifications according to the connection of the image forming units 3, the color arrangement for each predetermined specification (model type) Reference patterns such as Y-M-C-K, Y-Y-M-M, C-C-K-K, Y-Y-Y-Y, M-M-M-M, C-C-C-- Color arrangement reference patterns such as C, KK-KK are stored in advance in the memory of the host device 36.

  The ink color arrangement information transmitted from the image forming apparatus side is compared with the color arrangement reference pattern. When the ink color arrangement information is different from the color arrangement reference pattern, the ink cassette 10 is attached to the cassette attachment portion 11. If not, an error is displayed (for example, see FIG. 12), the operator is notified, and the printing operation is automatically stopped.

  In this way, when the image forming apparatus is shipped from the factory or upgraded at the user's site, an incorrect ink color arrangement (incorrect mounting position of the ink cassette 10) or incorrect wiring is used. It is possible to reduce the generation of waste paper due to printing mistakes and the recovery time, thereby reducing costs and improving productivity.

  16 and 17 are a schematic configuration diagram viewed from the plane of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 10 and a schematic configuration diagram viewed from the side.

  In the figure, 37 is a power source, and 38 is a maintenance mechanism provided on the rear side of the image forming apparatus. As indicated by arrows, the base 26 on which the plurality of ink heads 12 are mounted is configured to reciprocate between a printing position facing the web 1 and the platen roller 13 and a standby position facing the maintenance mechanism 38. Yes. The ink head 12 (base 26) is moved to the maintenance mechanism 38 for the operation of maintaining the ink head 12 (wiping, ink ejection detection, etc.). Such a configuration is also provided in other image forming apparatuses.

  In the above embodiment, an inkjet image forming apparatus using normal ink has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, other methods such as an ultraviolet curable ink jet using an ultraviolet curable ink can be used. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus. In the above-described case, it is necessary to provide an ultraviolet irradiation unit that irradiates ultraviolet rays on the downstream side in the web conveyance direction of the ink head to cure the ink.

  In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus that forms an image on one side of a recording medium such as a web has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image is formed in the middle of a conveyance path of a recording medium such as a web. It can also be applied to a forming apparatus.

1: Web,
2: Paper feed unit,
3a-3h: Image forming unit,
4: Discharge transport unit,
5: Infeed roller
6: Nip roller,
7: Guide roller,
8: Web exit,
10: Ink cassette,
11: Cassette mounting part
12: Ink head
13: Platen roller,
15: Web entrance
16: Web exit,
18: Outfeed roller,
19: Nip roller
20: guide roller,
21: Web entrance,
24: convex part.

JP 2008-221500 A Japanese Patent No. 2979393

Claims (10)

An assembly system of an ink jet image forming apparatus in which a paper feed conveyance unit, an image forming unit, and a paper discharge unit are arranged and connected along a conveyance direction of a long recording medium,
As the image forming unit,
A first inkjet head loaded with ink of a first color different from the second to fourth colors described later, and a second color different from the first color and the third and fourth colors described later A second ink-jet head loaded with a second ink, a third ink-jet head loaded with an ink of a third color different from the first, second and fourth colors described later; A single imaging unit comprising a fourth inkjet head loaded with an ink of a fourth color different from the third color;
A first image forming unit having a first ink jet head loaded with the first color ink, a second ink jet head loaded with the second color ink, and the third color ink. A double image forming unit assembly comprising a loaded third ink jet head and a second image forming unit having a fourth ink jet head loaded with the fourth color ink;
A first imaging unit having a first inkjet head loaded with the first color ink; a second imaging unit having a second inkjet head loaded with the second color ink; A third image forming unit having a third ink jet head loaded with the third color ink; and a fourth image forming unit having a fourth ink jet head loaded with the fourth color ink. and 4 has a continuous cropping image unit assembly,
Is selected in accordance with the specifications of the image forming apparatus is assembled, the single image forming unit, the two continuous cropping image unit assembly and the 4 continuous cropping image unit current one of the imaging units of the polymer is, the sheet feed conveying unit and An assembly system of an ink jet image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to be separably connected to the paper discharge conveyance unit.
In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
In addition to the image forming unit, a special color image forming unit loaded with special color ink specially used by a user is added. In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of the same colors are arranged side by side along the recording medium conveyance direction in the color arrangement in the image forming unit. In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The first color, the second color, the third color, and the fourth color of the single image forming unit, the double image forming unit aggregate, and the four image forming unit aggregate in the recording medium conveyance direction. An assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus, wherein the arrangement order is the same. In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus, wherein the recording medium conveyance speed is set separately according to the number of image forming units to be used. In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The image forming unit includes a color information sensor for detecting a color of ink loaded in the inkjet head;
A host device that exchanges information with the image forming apparatus;
Transmitting the color arrangement information of the image forming unit or the image forming unit aggregate detected by the color information sensor to the host device;
Compare the color arrangement information with the color arrangement pattern for each specification of the image forming apparatus stored in advance in the host apparatus, determine the specifications of the image forming apparatus,
A drive control data suitable for the specifications of the image forming apparatus is output to the paper feeding / conveying unit and the paper discharging unit to drive and control the paper feeding / conveying unit and the paper discharging unit. Assembly system. In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
An assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus, wherein when the color arrangement information is different from the color arrangement pattern, an error is displayed and the printing operation of the image forming apparatus is stopped. In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
The image forming unit includes an ink cassette that supplies ink to the inkjet head, and a mounting detection sensor that detects mounting / non-mounting of the ink cassette;
An assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus, which is configured to display an error and stop the printing operation of the image forming apparatus when the mounting detection sensor detects that the ink cassette is not mounted. In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
An assembly system for an ink jet image forming apparatus, wherein the color information sensor also serves as the mounting detection sensor. In the assembly system of the ink jet image forming apparatus according to claim 6,
The image forming unit includes an ink cassette that supplies ink to the inkjet head, and a level sensor that detects a remaining amount of ink in the ink cassette;
An assembly of an ink jet image forming apparatus, wherein when the ink cannot be supplied to the ink jet head by the level sensor, an error is displayed and the printing operation of the image forming apparatus is stopped. system.

Images