JPH03295671A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate contamination of a recording surface with undried ink and to accurately set a recording sheet by securing an end guide member at the non-recording surface side of the sheet in a sheet conveying route, allowing the recording surface side to be free, and retracting the free end side from the route by pressing the end of the sheet to be conveyed. CONSTITUTION:A guide member 6 is composed of a transparent sheet, so mounted on the sheath 7 of a recording as to block a discharge port 8, one end of the nonrecording surface side of a recording sheet 1 is adhered fixedly through the port 8 with adhesive, and the recording surface side of the sheet 1 is allowed to be a free end. In the case of recording, it is pushed up by the end of the sheet 1 conveyed by sheet conveying means 2, so bent as to be indicated by a two-dotted line, and compared at the free end side to the route. Particularly, the member 6 is formed of a transparent member to easily visually recognize the contact of the end of the sheet with the member 6. A serial bubble jet recording system of one of ink jet recording systems is employed as the recording means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that can easily set the leading edge of a recording sheet.

<Prior Art> Today, with the development of information processing systems, various recording devices have been developed.For example, in a serial type thermal transfer recording device, as shown in FIG. The recording sheet 52 is conveyed by the front and rear pinch rollers 51a and 51b, and the carriage 54 on which the recording head 53 is mounted is reciprocated along the guide rail 55, thereby transferring ink from the ink ribbon stored in the cassette 56 to the recording sheet. 52 is recorded.

To manually set the recording sheet 52 in the recording apparatus, the recording sheet 52 is inserted through the insertion slot 57, and the leading edge of the sheet is moved between the conveying roller 50 and the front pinch roller 51.
When the recording sheet 52 hits the nip with the recording sheet 52 and presses the sheet cue key, the conveying roller 50 is rotated by a certain amount to cue the leading edge of the recording sheet 52.

However, in order to configure as described above, it is necessary to provide a dedicated sheet cue key and its driving circuit, which increases manufacturing costs. If this abutment deviates when the recording sheet 52 abuts against the nip portion with the recording sheet 51a, the recording sheet 52 will be indexed in a skewed state.

Therefore, in order to set the recording sheet while visually checking the leading edge of the recording sheet, as shown in FIG. 6, an exterior rib 58 on the recording surface side of the recording sheet 52 is configured to protrude at the sheet discharge section, and the sheet is conveyed by a manual rib (not shown). Some recording sheets are set by manually rotating the roller 50 to feed the recording sheet 52 until its leading edge contacts the exterior rib 58. In this configuration, the sheet is manually fed and set while visually checking so that the leading edge of the sheet coincides with the top surface of the exterior case, and when recording is started, the conveying roller 50 rotates a predetermined amount to perform recording with respect to the specified top margin. It is something.

By locating the sheet as described above, there is no need for a sheet locating key, and the skew setting of the sheet 52 can be reliably prevented.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, although the method of setting the recording sheet 52 with the leading edge of the recording sheet 52 aligned with the upper surface of the exterior rib 58 as described above is suitable for thermal transfer recording, it is not a problem for inkjet recording. If there is a portion of ink that has not dried on the recording sheet 52,
There is an inconvenience that this comes into contact with the exterior rib 58 and stains the recording surface.

In order to prevent the above-mentioned inconvenience, if you try to align the leading edge of the recording sheet 52 with the top surface of the exterior without bringing it into contact with the exterior as shown in FIG. Accuracy decreases, and for example, when recording a postal code on a postcard, there are problems such as numbers protruding from the postal code frame.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, an arrangement may be considered in which an exterior rib 59 is formed protrudingly on the non-recording surface side of the recording sheet 52 so that the leading edge of the sheet comes into contact with the rib 59 when setting the sheet. In this case, the recording sheet 52 is ejected toward the front, making it impossible to check the printing status, as well as inconveniences such as the recording surface coming into contact with the top surface of the exterior and staining the recording surface if the ink is not dry. was there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a recording device that can accurately set sheets without staining the recording surface with undried ink even during inkjet recording. be.

<Means for Solving the Problems> A typical means according to the present invention for solving the above problems includes: a sheet conveying means for conveying a recording sheet; a recording means for recording on the recording sheet; a guide member for setting the sheet by abutting the leading end of the recording sheet, the leading end guide member is fixed on the non-recording surface side of the recording sheet in the sheet conveyance path, and the recording surface side is fixed at the free end. The present invention is characterized in that the free end side is retracted from the sheet conveyance path by pressing the leading edge of the conveyed recording sheet.

Another feature is that the recording means is constructed using an inkjet recording method.

<Function> In the above means, when manually setting the recording sheet, the recording sheet is fed until the leading edge of the sheet comes into contact with the guide member.
Whether or not the leading edge of the sheet has come into contact with the guide member can be easily confirmed by a slight movement of the guide member, so that sheet setting can be performed accurately regardless of individual differences between operators.

Further, the guide member is fixed on the non-recording surface side, and when the recording sheet is conveyed during recording, the free end on the recording surface side retracts, so that the free end does not come into contact with the recording surface of the sheet. Accordingly, when recording is performed using the inkjet recording method, even if there is a portion of the recording surface where the ink is not dried, ink stains will not occur.

<Example> Next, an example of the present invention to which the above-mentioned means is applied will be explained in the case where it is applied to a serial type inkjet recording apparatus. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a recording It is a perspective explanatory view of a device.

(Overall Configuration) First, the overall configuration of the apparatus will be described. A recording sheet 1 is conveyed by a sheet conveyance means 2, and recording is performed on this sheet 1 by ejecting ink from a recording head 3 constituting the recording means. In this case, a serial type recording method is used, in which the recording head 3 is mounted on a carriage 4, and the carriage 4 is reciprocated by a carriage moving means 5, and a recording head 3 is driven to set a predetermined position on a recording sheet (1). It is configured to perform recording.

Further, a leading edge guide member 6 for guiding the leading edge of the recording sheet 1 when manually setting the recording sheet 1 is attached to a sheet discharge port 8 in the exterior casing 7 of the apparatus.

Next, the configuration of each part of the recording apparatus will be specifically explained.

(Sheet conveying means) The sheet conveying means 2 conveys the recording sheet 1 to the recording position,
This is for discharging the sheet 1 after recording. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the lower guide 2a is configured to be urged by the feeding roller 2b,
This roller shaft 2c is connected to the feeding motor 2 via a gear train 2d.
It is connected to e. Therefore, when the feeding motor 2e is driven and the feeding roller 2b rotates in the direction of the arrow a, the recording sheet 1 is fed in the direction of the arrow.

A conveying roller 2f is provided below the feeding roller 2b, and a conveying motor 21 is connected to this roller shaft 2g via a gear train 2h. Further, the conveyance roller 2f includes a front pinch roller 2j and a rear pinch roller 2 that rotate in a driven manner.
A paper pan 21 is attached to the lower circumferential surface of the transport roller 2f, which is in pressure contact with the transport roller 2f. As a result, the fed recording sheet 1 is transferred between the conveying roller 2f and the pinch roller 2.
j and 2k, and is conveyed in a U-turn along the periphery of the conveyance roller 2f to reach the recording position.

A platen 2m is provided at the recording position and is configured to support the back surface of the sheet 1 at the recording position.

Further, a discharge roller 2n is connected to the gear train 2h, and the sheet 1 after recording is discharged from the discharge port 8 by the discharge roller 2n and the spur 2o rotating in contact with the discharge roller 2n.

A manual knob 2p is attached to one end of the roller shaft 2g of the conveyance roller 2f, so that the conveyance roller 2f can be manually rotated when manually feeding the recording sheet 1 or when the recording sheet 1 jams. It looks like this.

(Guide member) The guide member 6 serves as a sheet leading edge guide when manually setting the recording sheet 1. The guide member 6 in this embodiment is a transparent sheet made of vinyl chloride with a thickness of about 0.03 mm. As shown in FIG. 1, this guide member 6 is attached to the device exterior 7 so as to close the discharge port 8. To install it, one end of the non-recording side of the recording sheet 1 is fixed with an adhesive or the like across the discharge port 8, and the recording side of the sheet 1 is attached so that it becomes a free end.
is attached.

Since the guide member 6 is made of a thin sheet, it normally covers the discharge port 8, but when it is pushed up by the leading edge of the recording sheet 1 conveyed by the sheet conveying means 2 during recording, it will cause the two points shown in FIG. It is curved as shown by the chain line, and is configured such that the free end side is retracted from the sheet conveyance path. At this time, since the fixed side of the guide member 6 is the non-recording surface side, the free end of the guide member 6 contacts the non-recording side of the recording sheet 1 and curves, but does not contact the recording surface side. Even if the ink ejected from the pad 3 onto the recording sheet 1 is undried, the guide member prevents the recording surface from becoming dirty.

(Manual feeding setting) Here, the case of manually feeding and setting the recording sheet 1 into the apparatus will be described.

The lower guide 2a and the feeding roller 2 are released by a release means (not shown).
Release the pressure contact with the recording sheet 1, insert the recording sheet 1, and insert the recording sheet 1 into the conveyor roller 2f and the front pinch roller 2 shown in FIG.
Next, the manual knob 2p is turned to send out the recording sheet 1 by the cooperation of the conveying roller 2f and the front and rear pinch rollers 2j, 2, and the point when its tip abuts against the guide member 6. Stop at.

Whether or not the leading edge of the sheet has come into contact with the guide member 6 can be confirmed even by a slight movement of the guide member 6. In particular, in this embodiment, since the guiding member 6 is made of a transparent member, the leading edge of the sheet is in contact with the guide member 6. It is easily visible that the object has come into contact with the object.

As described above, the leading edge of the recording sheet 1 can be accurately and easily positioned by the guide member 6 when the recording sheet 1 is manually set.

(Recording Means) Next, the configuration of the recording means will be explained. This is for recording an ink image on the recording sheet 1 conveyed by the sheet conveying means 2, and in this embodiment, an inkjet recording method is preferable. used for.

The inkjet recording method includes a liquid ejection port for ejecting recording ink liquid as flying droplets, a liquid flow path communicating with the ejection port, and a part of this liquid flow path. and ejection energy generating means for providing ejection energy for causing the ink liquid to fly. The ejection energy generating means is then driven in accordance with the drive signal to eject ink droplets and record an image.

As the ejection energy generation means, for example, a method using a pressure energy generation means such as an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, a method in which electromagnetic waves such as a laser are irradiated and absorbed by the ink liquid to generate heat, and the ink is ejected by the action of the heat generation. There is a method using an electromagnetic energy generating means that causes the ink to flow, or a method using a thermal energy generating means that heats the ink liquid using an electrothermal converter and ejects the ink. Among these methods, the method of ejecting ink using a thermal energy generating means such as an electrothermal converter is capable of high-resolution printing because liquid ejection ports can be arranged in a high density, and the print head is compact. It is suitable because it can also be

In this embodiment, a serial bubble jet recording method, which is one of the inkjet recording methods described above, is used as a recording means.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an exploded configuration of the recording head 3 constituting the recording means, and FIGS. 4(a) to (8) are explanatory diagrams of the principle of bubble jet recording.

In FIG. 3, 3a is a heater board, on which an electrothermal converter (discharge heater) 3b and an electrode 3c made of aluminum or the like for supplying power to this are formed and arranged on a silicon substrate. . A top plate 3e having a partition wall for partitioning a recording liquid channel (nozzle) 3d is adhered to the heater board 3a. Further, an ink cartridge for supplying ink to the recording head 3 is replaceably attached to a predetermined position of the apparatus.

The ink supplied from the ink cartridge through the conduit is filled into a common liquid chamber 3g in the recording pad 3 through a supply port 3f provided on the top plate 3e, and from this common liquid chamber 3g into each nozzle 3d. be guided.

Ink ejection ports 3h are formed in these nozzles 3d, and the ejection ports 3h are formed at a predetermined pitch in the sheet conveyance direction, facing the recording sheet of the recording head 3.

In this embodiment, the recording pad 3 configured as described above is mounted on a carriage that can move back and forth, and ink is ejected from the recording pad 3 to the recording in synchronization with the movement of the carriage.

It records by flying it.

Regarding the ink flying principle in the bubble jet recording method, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,723,129 and US Pat. No. 4,740,796.

To briefly explain this with reference to FIG. 4 (6), in a steady state, as shown in FIG. When the ink 31 is to be ejected in this state, the electrothermal converter 3b in the nozzle 3d is energized,
The temperature of the ink in the nozzle 3d is caused to rise rapidly beyond nucleate boiling. Then, as shown in Fig. 4(a), the ink adjacent to the electrothermal converter 3b is heated to generate microbubbles, and the ink in the heated portion is vaporized to cause film boiling, and as shown in FIG. As shown in C), the bubbles 3j grow rapidly.

When the bubble 3j grows to the maximum as shown in FIG. 4(b), an ink droplet is extruded from the ejection opening in the nozzle 3d. When the electricity supply to the electrothermal converter 3b is terminated, the grown bubbles 3j are transferred to the nozzle 3, as shown in FIG. 4(e).
The ink 31 in the air bubbles cools and contracts, and as the bubbles grow and contract, the ink liquid flies out from the ejection port.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4(f), the ink comes into contact with the surface of the electrothermal converter 3b and is rapidly cooled, and the bubbles 3j either disappear or shrink to an almost negligible volume. When the bubble 3j contracts, ink is supplied from the common liquid chamber 3g into the nozzle 3d by capillary action, as shown in FIG. 4(6), in preparation for the next energization.

Therefore, an ink image can be recorded on the recording sheet by reciprocating the carriage and energizing the electrothermal transducer 3b in response to a pulse-shaped drive signal via the signal cable 3k in synchronization with this movement. I can do it.

The pulse-shaped drive signal is disclosed in US Pat. No. 446
Those described in Japanese Patent No. 3359 and Japanese Patent No. 4345262 are suitable. and U.S. Patent No. 431312 for an invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in Specification No. 4 are adopted, even better recording can be achieved.

A recovery means 9 is provided at the end of the movement range of the carriage 4. Specifically, this recovery means 9 is a preheating means for the recording head 3 using a capping means, a cleaning means, a pressurizing or suction means, an electrothermal transducer 3b or another heating element, or a combination thereof. , is composed of means for performing a preliminary ejection mode for ejecting other than recording, and is connected to a gear train 2d as shown in FIG. It acts on the head 3 to stably drive the head 3.

The carriage 4 is for reciprocating the recording pad 3 in the width direction of the recording sheet 1. A guide shaft 5a is attached parallel to the platen 2m, and the carriage 4 is slidable along this shaft 5a. Attachment et al.

A driving boo IJ is provided near both ends of the guide shaft 5a.
5b and a driven pulley 5C are attached, and a carriage motor 5d is connected to the driving boo +J5b. Further, a timing belt 5e is stretched between the pulleys 5b and 5c, and a portion of the timing belt 5e is connected to the carriage 4.

In the above configuration, when a recording start signal is received after the recording sheet 1 is set manually or automatically, the conveying roller 2f rotates according to the leading edge margin to move the sheet 1 back (
or forward) feed. Then, the carriage motor 5d is driven forward and backward to move the carriage 4 back and forth along the guide shaft 5a, and in synchronization with this movement of the carriage, the recording head 3 is driven to form ink onto the recording sheet 1 in an image pattern. Recording is performed by ejecting.

The recording sheet 1 is sequentially conveyed in accordance with the recording operation and is discharged from the discharge port 8, but at this time, the free end side of the guide member 6 is pushed up by the sheet 1, so that it does not become an obstacle to sheet discharge. Further, as described above, since the free end side of the guide member 6 does not come into contact with the recording surface side of the sheet 1 to be discharged, the recording sheet 1 is not contaminated with undried ink.

After the recording sheet 1 is ejected, the guide member 6 returns to its original state due to its elastic force, and during non-recording, the guide member 6 functions as a lid that closes the ejection port 6.
This prevents dust and the like from entering through the discharge port 6.

[Other Examples]

Next, other embodiments of each part in the recording apparatus will be described.

(Sheet Conveying Means) In the embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the recording sheet 1 is nipped and conveyed by the conveying roller 2f and the front and rear pinch rollers 2j, 2, but the members for conveying the recording sheet 1 are not necessarily the same. It is not necessary to limit it to a roller-shaped one, and it may be configured to apply a conveying force to the recording sheet 1 using, for example, a rotating belt or the like.

(Guide member) In the embodiment described above, when manually setting the recording sheet 1, whether or not the leading edge of the sheet has contacted the guide member 6 is checked by visually checking the slight movement of the guide member 6. , the movement of the guide member 6 may be detected by the detection means 10 as shown in FIG.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, contacts 10a and 10b are provided on the lower surface of the guide member 6 and the upper surface of the device exterior 7 facing thereto.
The rest of the structure is the same as that of the embodiment described above.

The contacts 10a and the fob are in contact and turned on when the guide member 6 is blocking the discharge port 8, and when the sheet 1 is manually set, the leading edge of the sheet abuts against the guide member 6 and is slightly If you push it up, it will separate and turn off.

Therefore, if configured as described above, the contact 10a determines whether or not the leading edge of the sheet has come into contact with the guide member 6 during manual feeding.
, 10b can be detected by turning them on or off.

Therefore, if a predetermined display is displayed on the display section using the signals from the contacts 10a and 10b, it becomes possible to perform manual feeding and setting more easily.

Incidentally, the configuration of the detection means 10 includes the contact 10a.
, 10b (recording means) The configuration of the recording head 3 in the recording means includes the above-mentioned configuration of the combination of the ejection port, liquid path, and electrothermal transducer (linear liquid U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333, U.S. Pat.
The configuration disclosed in the specification of No. 59600 may be adopted. Furthermore, JP-A-59 discloses a configuration in which a common slit for a plurality of electrothermal converters is used as a discharge part of the electrothermal converter. A configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 123670 of 1983 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461 of 1982, which discloses a configuration in which a discharge portion is provided with an opening for absorbing pressure waves of thermal energy, may also be suitably adopted.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned recording means is an example of the recording head 3 attached to the carriage in advance, but by being attached to the carriage etc., electrical connection with the apparatus main body and ink supply from the apparatus main body are possible. Alternatively, a replaceable chip-type recording head may be used, or a cartridge-type recording head provided in the recording head itself may be used.

Furthermore, the recording mode of the recording device is not limited to a recording mode in which only the mainstream color such as black is used, but it is also possible to configure the recording head integrally or by combining a plurality of recording heads, but it is also possible to use a recording mode in which the recording head is configured integrally or by a combination of multiple colors. It may be provided with at least one full color.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the ink was explained as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower. Generally, the temperature is controlled so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range by adjusting the temperature, so it is sufficient that the ink is in a liquid state when the drive signal is applied. This can be prevented by using heat as energy for the layer change of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or by using an ink that solidifies when left in order to prevent ink evaporation. Ink that liquefies only by thermal energy, such as ink that liquefies and is ejected as liquid ink when applied in response to a recording signal, or ink that begins to solidify by the time it reaches the recording sheet, may also be used. Applicable.

The ink is applied as a liquid or solid to the recesses or through-holes of a porous sheet, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, and is then heated by electric heat. It may also be in a form such that it faces the converting body.

Incidentally, the most effective method of the present invention for each of the above-mentioned inks is one in which the above-mentioned film boiling method is executed.

Furthermore, the recording means of the present invention need not be limited to the bubble jet recording method described above; for example, a so-called thermal transfer method in which an ink sheet coated with heat-melting ink is heated in accordance with an image signal and the molten ink is transferred to the recording sheet. recording method,
Various recording methods can be employed, such as a so-called thermal recording method in which a recording sheet that develops color by heat is heated in accordance with the image signal, and a so-called wire tod recording method in which recording is performed by striking an ink ribbon with a wire in response to both signals. .

Therefore, the recording head is not limited to the above-mentioned bubble jet head; for example, a thermal head, a wire dot head, a daisy-wheel head, etc. can be used.

Furthermore, it is not necessary to limit the present invention to a serial type recording apparatus, and the present invention may be configured as a line type recording apparatus that performs recording for each line of the recording sheet width.

The recording apparatus using the above-mentioned inkjet recording method or bubble jet recording method may be used as a printer, which is an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, or as a copying device in combination with a reader or the like. Furthermore, it can also be used as a facsimile machine or the like having transmitting and receiving functions.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, in the present invention, when manually setting a recording sheet, the leading end is brought into contact with the guide member, so that setting can be performed accurately and easily, and is particularly suitable for inkjet recording apparatuses. Since the guide member does not come into contact with the recording surface of the recording sheet, there is an effect that the recording surface is not stained with undried ink.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a serial type inkjet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view, and FIG.
The figure is an exploded configuration explanatory diagram of the recording head.
is an explanatory diagram of the bubble jet recording principle, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment provided with a sensor for detecting the movement of the guide member.
FIGS. 6 to 8 are explanatory diagrams of the prior art. 1 is a recording sheet, 2 is a sheet conveyance means, 2a is a lower guide, 2b is a feeding roller, 2C is a roller shaft, 2d is a gear train,
2e is a feed motor, 2f is a conveyance roller, 2g is a roller shaft, 2h is a gear train, 21 is a conveyance motor, 2j is a front pinch roller, 2 is a rear pinch roller, 2I! , is a paper pan, 2m is a platen, 2n is a discharge roller, 2o is a spur, 2p is a manual knob, 3 is a recording head, 3a is a heater board, 3b is an electrothermal converter, 3C is an electrode, 3d is a nozzle , 3e is a top plate, 3f is a supply port, 3g is a common liquid chamber, 3h is a discharge port, 31 is ink, 3j is a bubble, 3 is a signal cable, 4 is a carriage, 5 is a carriage moving means, 5a is a guide shaft , 5b is a drive pulley, 5c is a driven pulley, 5d is a carriage motor, 5e is a timing belt, 6 is a guide member, 7 is an exterior of the device, 8 is a discharge port, 9 is a recovery means, 10 is a detection means, 10a, 10b are It is a point of contact.

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) It has a sheet conveying means for conveying a recording sheet, a recording means for recording on the recording sheet, and a guide member for setting the sheet by abutting the leading end of the recording sheet, The leading edge guide member is fixed on the non-recording surface side of the recording sheet in the sheet conveying path, and the recording surface side is configured as a free end, and the free end side is moved away from the sheet conveying path by the pressure of the leading edge of the conveyed recording sheet. A recording device characterized in that it is configured to be evacuated. (2) Claim (1) wherein the guide member is made of a transparent member.
) recording device. (3) The recording apparatus according to claim (1), further comprising a detection means for detecting the movement of the guide member. (4) The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus uses an inkjet recording method in which the recording means performs recording by ejecting ink in response to a signal. (5) The recording apparatus is an inkjet recording system in which the recording means energizes an electrothermal transducer in response to a signal and ejects ink using thermal energy from the electrothermal transducer to perform recording. (4) Recording device as described. (6) In the recording device, the recording means energizes the electrothermal transducer in accordance with a signal, and the ink is ejected from the ejection port by the growth of bubbles generated by heating exceeding film boiling by the electrothermal transducer, thereby recording. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, which uses a bubble jet recording method.