JPH03151241A - Liquid-jet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a recorder compact and simple, and shorten the record start-up time period by a method wherein recording liquid spouts of an ink-jet recorder are brought in contact with a recording medium transfer device during out of recording so as to prevent water content in the recording liquid from evaporating. CONSTITUTION:A head assembly is usually brought in nearly contact with a transfer belt 6 during other actions than recording so as to achieve a capping effect. When a recording instruction is inputted to a control circuit 21, the head assembly is raised so that the gap between the head assembly and a sheet of recording paper 7 is widened up to the cap acting position, and the transfer belt 6 is rotated once for cleaning and then stopped. Then, when the recording paper 7 is fed onto the transfer belt 6 and an electric heat converter generates heat, ink changes its state, causing it to be discharged, and printed by recording heads 1a-1d. When the transfer belt 6 is stopped after feeding of the prescribed number of the recording paper finishes, the head assembly is lowered to put it in previous contact state, and, if necessary, the liquid drops are discharged to fill the gaps between the recording heads 1a-1d and the transfer belt 6 for preventing liquid passages from being dried up.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is applicable to copying machines, facsimile machines, word processors,
The present invention relates to a liquid jet recording device used in output terminal printers such as computers, video output printers, and the like.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Liquid jet recording apparatuses (ink side recording apparatuses) that record information such as characters and images by ejecting recording liquid from a recording head have been widely known.

The recording material for this type of liquid jet recording is mainly I, I, Gushizu, Tsukusheet, etc., and especially other recording methods r: Blbe O operation noise. It has the advantage that it is small in size, and can be easily and inexpensively constructed as a basic bowl machine, and has been adopted in various fields as a recording output device such as computers and word processors.

However, in this type of device, recording is performed by directly ejecting recording liquid (hereinafter referred to as ink) from the liquid path of the print head, so in order to keep the ink in a state where it can be ejected at all times, other methods cannot be used. special consideration is required.

That is, since the ink remains in the liquid path of the print head even during non-printing, a means is required to prevent the ink in this liquid path from deteriorating in quality, such as an increase in viscosity due to drying or evaporation. For this reason, some devices are equipped with so-called capping means, which covers the ejection ports of the print head with a lid during non-printing to prevent ink from drying or evaporating.

On the other hand, there are usually two types of recording heads.One is the σ type, which is generally called a serial type, and has one or more ejection ports. In other words, there is a lack of an apparatus that moves in the main running direction and records on recording paper.

The other method, which is generally called the full-line method, is an older method in which the ejection ports are arranged to cover the entire width of the recording paper being transported, and the head is moved in the same direction as the recording paper transport direction. Normally, the recording paper is conveyed by a belt, etc., and a hardened full-line head is used to print the paper.
Configured to record line by line.

Furthermore, there are two types of recording devices: one is a monochrome (black and white) type in which only one head is mounted, and the other is a one-color type in which a plurality of four heads are mounted. .

[Technical problem to be solved by the invention]

In recent years, there has been active development of high-speed color printers using the inkjet method. However, depending on such recording device, it may be a full-line type.

The apparatus is configured such that a plurality of paper scanners are mounted and the recording paper is conveyed by a belt, and it is necessary to move the spatula 1' in order to perform capping as described above.

For this reason, there have been problems such as the apparatus becoming larger and more complex, or the recording operation taking a long time due to the frequent capping operation, making it impossible to fully utilize the original high-speed performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is to provide a liquid jet recording apparatus that is small and simple, and that can shorten recording start time.

[Failure to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the object i7, the present invention provides a liquid jet recording apparatus including a line type inkjet recording means and a means for conveying a recording material, in which droplet ejection of the line inkjet recording means is performed during non-recording. The outlet and the recording material conveying means are configured to be in close contact with each other.

[Function] As described above, according to the present invention, the recording material conveying means itself is used as a capping means for suppressing the evaporation of water in the recording liquid from the droplet ejection opening of the line type inkjet recording head. , the device becomes simpler and smaller, and costs can be reduced and recording start time can be shortened.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of essential parts showing an embodiment of a liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, on the bottom surface of the recording head 1, for example, there is a
3456 discharge ports 1-1 and liquid passages 1-2 communicating therewith are provided at an interval of 6 dots/m, and the cough liquid passage 1
-2 is provided with an electrothermal converter (not shown). It is configured to perform 21 G-width recording line sequentially.

Also, record rad 1, black, cyan, magenta,
Four recording heads 1a, 1), lc, and ld are provided b3 corresponding to the four colors of yellow recording liquid, and the distance between each recording head 1a to 1d in the recording paper conveying direction of the liquid path is set. It is fixed and held by the boulder 2 so that it remains constant. moreover,
A head unit composed of four recording heads 1ax=1d and a holder 2 can be moved up and down by a head moving means 22.

On the other hand, a recording liquid connector 3 (3a=3d) is provided corresponding to each recording head 1 axl d, and the recording head l azl d and recording tanks 3a to 3d are connected by a recording liquid supply tube 4. There is. Therefore, the recording liquid is led to the recording heads 1a to 1d via the recording liquid supply tube 4.

The recording liquid is supplied using the capillary phenomenon in the liquid path of the recording head 1a=Id, and the head of the recording liquid in each of the recording liquid tanks 3a to 3d is set a certain distance lower than the liquid path surface. . Incidentally, reference numeral 5 denotes a recording liquid circulation pump, which supplies recording liquid under pressure to recording within the rads 1a to ld.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a conveyor belt for conveying recording paper 7, which is a type of recording material, and has a high resistance N (1
The inner surface is grounded by the idle roller 8, and the surface is grounded by the charger 9 to 1500Ω.
It is configured to be charged to about V.

Further, the recording paper 7 is injected with a negative charge by a charger lO, and is conveyed by being electrostatically attracted to the belt surface. Note that the reference numeral 10a indicates a charger driver.

Roughly speaking, the conveyance heald 6 is configured to be rotated by a motor 12 connected to a rotary driving roller 11 in a direction for moving the recording paper 7 in the illustrated X direction. The idle roller 8 is used to rotate the conveyor belt 1-6, and 13 is a tension run roller for applying a certain tensile strength to the conveyor belt 1-6.

14 (14a, 14b) charges the recording paper 7 with a charger 9.10
The pinch rollers press against the conveyor belt 6 before and after the conveyor belt 6 to strengthen suction. It also has the function of improving the orthogonality of the tip with respect to the X direction.

Record! One sheet of paper 7 is fed out one by one from a cassette 15 via a paper feed roller 16, and is sandwiched between a conveyance roller 17 and a pinch roller 18 and guided to a portion corresponding to the registration roller described above.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a cleaning unit 2, which removes paper dust and liquid droplets on the conveyor belt 6. Reference numeral 20 denotes a paper discharge tray on which recorded recording paper is stacked.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart I for explaining a series of operations in the apparatus of this embodiment.Hereinafter, the operations will be explained according to this flowchart.

Normally, in a state other than a recording operation, the head unit is in close contact with the conveyor belt 6 to obtain a capping effect.

In this state, when the instruction B is input to the control circuit 21 by means not shown (steps S1 and S2),
The head unit mover l.'22 moves the recording paper 7/, the -mi! Heng is number 100#
The position corresponding to m is gradually raised to the position where it is possible to move (step S3).

Thereafter, the transport heald 6 is driven, and the motor 19a of the cleaning unit 19 is rotated (step S4).
), the conveyor belt 6 is cleaned by a wiping member 19b for cleaning the conveyor belt 6. As a result, the motor 19a is stopped after the conveyor belt 6 has rotated once (step S5).

Next, the recording paper 7 is fed onto the conveyor belt 6 by the paper feed roller 16 (step S6), and the electrothermal converter generates heat due to the output signal from the drive circuit, and the thermal energy causes the ink to change its state. Ink is ejected based on the state change. In this way, each record is printed by rad 1a=ld and stacked on the paper discharge tray 20.

In this way, when the specified number of sheets has been supplied, the conveyor belt 6 is stopped (step S9), and the above-mentioned head unit I is lowered onto the 2t belt G (step S9).
),, after the previous dense 1゛11 state and J:, it is necessary t1
, □゛bar λ, 1゛, 4 sporadic droplets are ejected by the same driving force as during printing, and the recording heads 1a - 1d ,
! : Fill the gaps between transport bells 1 to (H) with recording liquid to prevent each liquid path from drying out.

Roughly, to prevent the recording liquid previously filled between the recording heads 1a to ld and the conveyor belt 6 from flowing back into the recording liquid tank 3,
Close the recording liquid flow path with a closing means such as a valve.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the reference numeral 22a indicates a head driver;
22b is a motor driver, 22e is a pump driver 22
d and 22e indicate a motor driver.

3 and 4 are for explaining the capping state in an easy-to-understand manner, and FIG. 3 shows the recording head 1a-1a.
The lower surface of the paper and the conveyor belt 6 are separated from each other, indicating a normal recordable state.

FIG. 4 shows that the head unit is lowered and the recording heads 1a--
A state in which the lower surface of 1d is in close contact with the conveyor belt 6 is shown. 23 in the figure is a belt guide, and the recording head 1a
This is to keep the corner between 1d and the recording paper 7 constant, and to improve the direction of close contact during capping.

In the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which the recording paper was conveyed by electrostatic attraction of the conveyor belt 6, but a method using a drum or the like is also applicable.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment, and show a structure in which the conveying drum 24 is used as a means for conveying the recording paper 7. In FIG.

In this embodiment, the recording paper 7 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in the figure by a conveyance drum 24 and a press roller 25, and recording heads 12 to 1d are arranged on the conveyance drum 24. ing.

FIG. 5 shows a normal recordable state, and FIG. 6 shows a capping state in which the head unit is lowered and the lower surfaces of the recording heads 13 to ld are in close contact with the conveyance drum 24.

In this configuration, not only cut paper but also roll paper,
The cleaning function described in the first embodiment is also necessary in the configuration of this embodiment, but it is omitted in the drawing.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the number of recording heads is described as four, but it is needless to say that the number of recording heads is not limited to this. Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the mechanism for lowering the recording head onto the conveyor belt was explained.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the conveyor belt unit may have a structure in which the conveyor belt unit contacts the recording head with an upward movement.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the liquid jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, the recording material is conveyed as a camping means for suppressing the evaporation of water in the recording liquid from the droplet ejection opening of the line type ink side recording head. By using the means itself, the device becomes simple and compact, which reduces costs and reduces the recording start time, that is, the first print time.In addition, since the recording head unit does not move significantly, the device can be easily and compactly made. Various excellent effects such as being advantageous against I-range deviation can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of essential parts showing an embodiment of a liquid jet recording device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the liquid jet recording device), FIGS. 3 and 4 is the first
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the device of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the device shown in FIG. recording head, 2
-...-Holder, 3.--1.-Recording liquid tank, 6-.
・-Transport belt, 7---Recorded material, 24・-1---
---Conveyance drum.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a liquid jet recording apparatus including a line-type inkjet recording means and a means for conveying a recording material, the droplet ejection opening of the line-type inkjet recording means and the recording material conveyance means are in close contact with each other during non-recording. A liquid jet recording device characterized in that it is configured as follows.