JPH05185680A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the contact of recording material presser members with a recording head by providing presser members for pressing the recording material against a platen and a pressing means for pressing the presser members separately from the recording means. CONSTITUTION:A pressing means, which is composed of pressing springs 37, 38, is provided for pressing recording material presser members 23, 24 separately from a recording head 6. As the pressing springs 37, 38, torsion coil springs are used. The spring 37 is supported on a shaft 16 of an arm 17 of a pinch roller 12. One end of the spring 37 is engaged with an engaging part 39 of the arm 17, and the other end thereof abuts on a rear end part 40 of the upstream recording material presser member 23 from downwards. In this manner, the spring 37 presses the recording material presser member 23 counterclockwise.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording on a recording material by recording means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is a sheet or a plastic thin plate based on image information. An image (including characters and symbols) is recorded on a recording material (recording medium) such as (OHP). The recording device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a heat sensitive type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system of the recording means used.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is set. An image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves along, and a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scanning) after one line of recording is completed, and then the next By repeating the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the row, image recording of the entire recording material is performed. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records a recording material only in a sub-scan that is fed in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is collectively performed. By performing a fixed amount of paper feed (pitch feed) and further performing the recording of the next row in a lump, the image recording on the entire recording material is performed.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) is one in which recording is performed by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is easy to make the recording means compact and high definition. Images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise and uses multicolor inks. Therefore, it is easy to record a color image.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (discharging port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of the IC technology and the micro processing technology, it is easy to make the recording means long and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easy to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. is there.

In the above recording apparatus, the recording quality is improved by making the gap between the recording material and the recording head as small as possible. However, when the recording material floats or sags at the recording position, the recording material may rub against the recording head, and the recording material may become dirty. Therefore, a recording material pressing member for pressing the recording material in an area passing through the recording head is provided. As the recording material pressing member, for example, a member that is mounted so as to be swingable around a shaft of a conveyance roller or the like and presses the recording material against the platen by using the own weight of a recording head, a carriage, or the like. It is used. The recording material pressing member may be disposed on either or both of the upstream side and the downstream side of the recording area in the recording material conveyance direction.

[0007]

However, in the recording material pressing mechanism of the conventional recording apparatus, a position error occurs in the pressing member for pressing the recording material pressing member due to manufacturing variations or the like. In this case, it becomes impossible to press the recording material pressing member uniformly and with appropriate force,
The recording material pressing member moves (eg, rotates) so as to be dragged by the frictional force with the conveyed recording material, and the tip of the recording material pressing member contacts the recording head, damaging the recording head. There was a case to let it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a positional error of a pressing member for pressing a recording material pressing member due to manufacturing variations or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that can bring at least the tip of the recording material pressing member into close contact with the recording material and can eliminate the contact between the recording material pressing member and the recording head.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in a recording apparatus for recording on a recording material by recording means, a recording material pressing member for pressing the recording material against a platen and the recording material pressing member are recorded. The above-described object is achieved by a configuration including a biasing unit that biases in a direction away from the unit. Another aspect of the present invention achieves the above object by providing a pressing member for bringing the recording material pressing member into close contact with the recording material in addition to the above structure.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an essential configuration of an embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are recording material conveying means and recording material pressing mechanism of the recording apparatus of FIG. It is a side view which shows the structure of. This recording device is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the recording material 2 such as sheets and plastic thin plates stacked in the cassette 1 is picked up by the pickup roller 3
The recording material 2 is conveyed one by one by the recording material conveying means 4 and the recording head (recording means) 6 records the back surface of the recording material 2 supported by the platen 5. It is configured to go. In the vicinity of the recording position, the recording material pressing mechanism 7 for preventing the recording material 2 from rising and sagging at the recording position during recording.
Is provided. Next, the configuration of each part of the recording apparatus in FIG. 1 will be specifically described.

"Recording material conveying means 4": The recording material conveying means 4 conveys the recording material 2 to the recording area.
1 and a pinch roller 12, and a discharge roller 14 and a pinch roller 15 that discharge the recording material 2 after recording to a discharge tray 13. The transport roller 11 and the discharge roller 14 can be driven by a transport motor (not shown). The pinch rollers 12 and 15 have shafts 16 and 16 respectively.
Arms 17, which are rotatable around 16, are attached to one end of each arm 17, and are pressed against the transport roller 11 and the discharge roller 14 by springs 18, 18 locked to the other end of the arm. Thus, the recording material conveying means 4 for conveying the recording material 2 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The discharge roller 14
Is driven by the same motor as the conveying roller 11, but is driven so that the peripheral speed thereof is several% faster than the conveying roller 11, and an appropriate tension is applied to the conveyed recording material 2. ing.

"Recording means (recording head) 6": The recording head 6 records an image on the recording material 2 being conveyed. An ink jet recording head is used as the recording head 6 in this recording apparatus. Further, the recording head 6 is one that ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy among the inkjet recording heads,
It is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. In addition, the recording head 6 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles caused by film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Is.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording head (recording means) 6.
In FIG. 4, the heater board 61 has a structure in which an electrothermal converter (discharge heater) 62 and an electrode 63 of aluminum or the like for energizing the electrothermal converter 62 are formed by film formation on a silicon substrate. For this heater board 61,
A top plate 65 having a partition wall for partitioning the plurality of ink liquid paths 64 is fixed by adhesion or the like. The heater board 61 and the top plate 65 are fixed to each other so that the corresponding electrothermal converters 62 (usually one at a time) are arranged in each liquid passage 64.

An ink cartridge (not shown) for supplying ink to the recording head 6 is replaceably mounted at a predetermined position of the recording apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 4, the ink supplied from the ink cartridge through the conduit is supplied to the common liquid chamber 67 in the recording head 6 from the supply port 66 provided in the top plate 65, and the common liquid chamber 67 and the respective liquid paths 64. Be guided inside. The common liquid chamber 67 is also
By joining the heater board 61 and the top plate 65, they are formed together with the liquid passage 64. Each liquid channel 64
Has an opening at the front end surface (ejection opening forming surface) 68 of the recording head 6, and these openings form ejection openings 69.

In this embodiment, the recording head 6 is mounted on a carriage 20 which is guided and supported along a guide shaft 19 so as to be capable of reciprocating in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction A of the recording material 2. Further, in the recording head 6, the ejection port forming surface 68 and the recording material 2 have a predetermined gap (for example,
The plurality of ejection openings 69 are mounted on the carriage 20 in such a posture that they face each other at about 0.5 to 2.0 mm) and are substantially parallel to the recording material conveyance direction A. Thus, in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 20, by driving (energizing) the corresponding electrothermal converter 62 based on the image signal (recording information), the ink in the liquid passage 64 is film-boiling,
The recording head 6 configured to eject ink from the ejection port 69 by the pressure generated at that time is configured.

In the recording head 6, a liquid passage 64 is provided to the corresponding electrothermal converter 62 based on the recording information.
At least one drive signal is applied to the ink therein to cause a rapid temperature rise beyond nucleate boiling to generate thermal energy in the electrothermal converter 62, causing film boiling in the ink adjacent to its heat-acting surface. As a result, bubbles corresponding to the drive signals in a pair are formed in the ink. Ink is ejected from the ejection port 69 by the growth and contraction of the bubbles, and at least one ink droplet is formed. By making the drive signal into a pulse shape, bubbles can be immediately and appropriately grown and contracted, and ink with excellent responsiveness can be ejected.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing the ink discharging operation with time. Next, the ink ejection operation of the recording head 6 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In FIG.
In the steady state, as shown in (a), the surface tension of the ink 21 in the liquid path 64 and the external pressure are balanced at the ejection port 69.
When the droplets of the ink 21 are ejected and ejected in this state, the electrothermal converter 62 in the corresponding liquid path 64 is energized,
The ink in the liquid path 64 is heated up rapidly beyond the nucleate boiling. Then, as shown in (b) of the figure, the ink 21 adjacent to the electrothermal converter 62 is heated to generate minute bubbles 22 and the ink 21 in the heated portion is heated.
Vaporize to cause film boiling, and the bubble 22 grows rapidly as shown in FIG.

When the bubble 22 grows to the maximum as shown in (d), the ink 21 is pushed out from the ejection port 69. When the power supply to the electrothermal converter 62 is stopped,
As shown in (e), the grown bubble 22 is cooled and contracted by the ink 21 in the liquid path 64, and the growth and contraction of the bubble causes the ink droplet to be ejected and ejected from the ejection port 69. further,
As shown in (f), the ink 21 comes into contact with the working surface of the electrothermal converter 62 and is rapidly cooled, and the bubbles 22 disappear or shrink to a substantially negligible volume.
When the bubble 22 contracts, as shown in (g),
The ink 21 is supplied from the common liquid chamber 67 into the liquid passage 64 by the capillarity to prepare for the next energization.

Therefore, by reciprocating the carriage 20 and energizing the electrothermal converter 62 in synchronization with the movement of the carriage 20 in response to a pulse-shaped drive signal, an image of an ink droplet is formed on the recording material 2. (Image) can be recorded. In a recording apparatus using an inkjet recording head, it is preferable to provide a recovery unit, a preliminary auxiliary unit, or the like at the home position of the carriage 20. Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means, electrothermal converter 62 or other heating element or preheating means for the recording head 6, and recording. It is possible to perform more stable recording by using a means for executing a preliminary ejection mode for performing another ejection.

"Carriage 20": In FIG. 1, a carriage 20 slidably mounted on a guide shaft 19, a carriage motor (not shown), and a transmission mechanism move the recording material 2 in the width direction along the guide shaft 19. It can be moved back and forth. The recording device includes a carriage 20.
A home position sensor is provided to detect that the is in the home position. This home position is set outside the area of the recording material 2, and FIG. 1 shows the state when the carriage 20 is at the home position.

"Recording material pressing mechanism 7": The recording material pressing mechanism 7 is for preventing the recording material 2 from rising during recording. The recording material pressing mechanism 7 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has an upstream recording material pressing member 23 that presses the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording material 2 with the recording position of the recording head 6 as a reference. The recording material pressing member 24 on the downstream side for pressing the downstream side in the transport direction is provided. In addition,
The recording material pressing mechanism includes the upstream recording material pressing member 2
The recording material pressing member 24 on the downstream side or the recording material pressing member 24 on the downstream side may be configured alone, and the present invention can be similarly applied to that case. In addition, if necessary, the recording material 2
May be conveyed in the return direction, but in that case, the upstream side and the downstream side are reversed.

The recording material pressing member 23 on the upstream side has a pressing portion 25 having a length equal to or larger than the width of the recording material 2, and arm portions 26, 26 extending at right angles from both ends of the pressing portion 25. Is rotatably supported by a shaft 27 fitted to the arm portion. In this embodiment, the shaft of the pinch roller 12 is used as the shaft 27. Here, the fitting of each arm portion 26 and the shaft 27 is performed by the vertically long slot 28 (FIG. 2, FIG. 3) formed in the arm portion 26, and therefore, the recording material pressing member on the upstream side is pressed. The member 23 is
It is pivotally supported so as to rotate and move in the vertical direction by a predetermined amount. Further, an inclined portion 29 is formed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the pressing portion 25 of the recording material pressing member 23 on the upstream side so that the pressing roller 30 mounted on the lower portion of the carriage 20 can easily climb on the pressing portion 25. Is becoming

One downstream recording material pressing member 24
Also has a similar structure, and has a pressing portion 31 having a length equal to or larger than the width of the recording material 2, and arm portions 32 and 32 extending at right angles from both ends of the pressing portion 31. The shaft 33 is rotatably supported by a shaft 33 that fits in the. In this embodiment, the shaft portion of the pinch roller 15 is used as the shaft 33. Here, each arm portion 32 and the shaft 33 are fitted to each other by the elongated hole 3 formed in the arm portion 32 and long in the vertical direction.
4 (FIGS. 2 and 3), and accordingly, the recording material pressing member 24 on the downstream side is also pivotally supported and rotatably supported by a predetermined amount in the vertical direction. Further, an inclined portion 35 is also formed on one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the pressing portion 31 of the recording material pressing member 24 on the downstream side so that the pressing roller 36 mounted on the lower portion of the carriage 20 can easily climb on the pressing portion 31. Is becoming

"Pressing means": The pressing means is for pressing the recording material pressing members 23, 24 against the platen 5, and in this embodiment, is rotatably supported below the carriage 20. The pressure rollers 30 and 36 are provided.
The pressing roller 30 is arranged to press the recording material pressing member 23 on the upstream side, and the pressing roller 36 is arranged to press the recording material pressing member 24 on the downstream side.
When the carriage 20 moves in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, the pressing rollers 30 and 36 pass through the inclined portions 29 and 35, respectively, and press the recording material pressing members 23 and 24, respectively.
Climb to the pressing portions 25 and 31 of.

"Biasing means for the recording material pressing member": this biasing means is for biasing the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 in the direction away from the recording head 6, and is a biasing spring. It is composed of 37 and 38. In this embodiment, torsion coil springs are used as the biasing springs 37 and 38. The spring 37 is supported by the shaft 16 of the arm 17 (of the pinch roller 12) on the upstream side, one end thereof is locked by the locking portion 39 of the arm 17, and the other end is the recording material pressing member on the upstream side. When the recording material pressing member 23 is brought into contact with the rear end portion 40 of the recording medium 23 from below,
It is biased counterclockwise inside. On the other hand, the spring 38 is supported by the shaft 16 of the arm 17 (of the pinch roller 15) on the downstream side, one end thereof is locked by the locking portion 41 of the arm 17, and the other end is the recording material on the upstream side. By abutting the rear end portion 42 of the pressing member 24 from below, the recording material pressing member 24 is urged clockwise in FIG. The rear end portions 40, 4 of the recording material pressing members 23, 24 are
2 has a U-shape that is open on the lower side so that the end portions of the biasing springs 37 and 38 cannot be removed.

"Driving Means of Recording Material Pressing Member": This driving means moves each recording material pressing member 23, 24 to a position where it does not come into contact with the recording material 2 against the biasing springs 37, 38. It is for moving (swinging). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the driving means includes a solenoid 43 attached to a frame (not shown) of the recording apparatus, and a drive arm 44 pivotably supported by the frame about a shaft 50. The solenoid 43 can drive the tip of the drive arm 43 upward in the drawing.
The movable portion 45 of the solenoid 43 is connected to the fitting hole 47 of the drive arm 44 via a shaft (pin) 46. Further, at the tip of the drive arm 44, abutting portions 48 and 49 that can come into contact with the lower sides of the tip portions (pressing portions) 25 and 31 of the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 are formed.

When the solenoid 43 is turned on, the movable part 4
When the drive arm 44 is retracted, the drive arm 44 rotates about the shaft 50 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. Tip portions (pressing portions) 25, 31 of the material pressing members 23, 24
The recording material pressing members 23, 24
Is driven to a position where it does not come into contact with the recording material 2. On the other hand, when the solenoid 43 is turned off, the drive arm 44 rotates (returns) in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 about the shaft 50, and as shown in FIG. 48, 49
Of the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 are returned to the descending position where they are separated from the recording material pressing members 23 and 24.
It is swung (returned) to a position where it comes into close contact with the recording material 2 (or the platen 5) by 7, 38. The driving means described above is normally provided at both ends of the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 and is configured to operate simultaneously.
The recording material pressing members 23 and 24 may be provided on one side, respectively.

"Paper feeding means": In FIG. 1, the pickup roller (paper feeding roller) 3 is rotated by a drive mechanism (not shown) to separate the recording materials 2 stacked in the cassette 1 one by one. Then, the recording material 2 is transferred to the conveying roller 11
And the pinch roller 12 and the discharge roller 14 and the pinch roller 15.

Next, a series of operations of the recording apparatus described above will be described. First, the solenoid 43 is turned on to rotate the drive arm 44 around the shaft 50, and the tip ends 48 and 49 of the drive arm 44 are struck to resist the biasing springs 37 and 38 and press the recording material. Members 23, 24
Is rotated in a direction away from the recording material 2 (or the platen 5). This state is shown in FIG. Then, by rotating the pickup roller 3 by a driving means (not shown), the recording material 2 is fed out and fed toward the conveying roller 11 and the discharging roller 14. At this time, since the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 are held at the separated positions above the platen 5, the recording material 2 is conveyed without contacting the recording material pressing members 23 and 24.

Further, in the state where the downstream recording material pressing member 24 is separated upward, as shown in FIG. 2, since the upstream end thereof is expanded in a V shape, the recording material 2 is formed. Even if curl occurs at the tip of the recording material 2, the recording material 2 is guided to the lower surface of the recording material pressing member 24 and is smoothly (stable) conveyed to the discharge roller 14.

After the tip of the recording material 2 passes through the pressing regions a and b (FIG. 2) of the recording material pressing members 23 and 24,
The solenoid 43 is turned off, and the drive arm 44 is rotated counterclockwise (downward direction away from the recording material pressing members 23 and 24). Then, the recording material pressing member 23,
The biasing springs 37, 38 and their own weights rotate the pressing regions a, b of the leading end 24 in the direction toward the platen 5, and contact (contact) the recording material 2.

Next, the carriage 20 moves the guide shaft 1
The recording operation is performed by the recording head 6, and the recording operation is performed by the recording head 6 while main-scanning the recording material 2 in the width direction. At that time, as shown in FIG. 3, the pressure rollers 30 and 36 pivotally supported by the carriage 20 are pressed by the recording material pressing members 23 and 24.
By rolling along the upper surfaces of the pressing portions 25 and 31, the recording material 2 is pressed against the platen 5 by the own weight of the carriage 20 and the recording head 6 to be brought into close contact therewith.

At this time, the vertical distance between the support shaft 27 of the recording material pressing member 23 and the upper surface of the platen 5 or the vertical distance between the support shaft 33 of the recording material pressing member 24 and the upper surface of the platen 5 is a predetermined value. From the support shafts 27, 33
There may be an error in the height of. However, in this embodiment, the recording material pressing member 2 is attached to the support shafts 27 and 33.
Since the vertically elongated holes 28 and 34 of the recording mediums 3 and 24 are fitted together, the height error can be absorbed, and the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 are recorded by the recording material by their own weight. 2 can be surely brought into close contact.

Further, even if the recording material pressing member 23 and the recording material 2 are not sufficiently adhered to each other due to variations in manufacturing or assembly, the pressing member 23 is pressed by the urging force of the urging spring 37. Since it is biased counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the tip end portion 51 of the pressing member 23 can be surely brought into close contact with the recording material 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the recording head 6 from being damaged by the contact between the recording material pressing member 23 and the recording head 6.

The same applies when the other recording material pressing member 24 and the recording material 2 are insufficiently adhered, and the pressing member 24 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 by the urging force of the urging spring 38. The tip portion 52 of the pressing member 24 can be surely brought into close contact with the recording material 2 because it is biased toward the recording material 2.
Therefore, the recording head 6 can be prevented from being damaged by the contact between the recording material pressing member 24 and the recording head 6.

When one main scan of the carriage 20 is completed, the carriage 20 is temporarily returned to the home position, during which a predetermined amount (for example, recording width = 1 line height) of paper feeding operation (recording material conveyance) is performed. Operation) is performed. When the paper feed is completed, the next line is recorded. When the recording operation for the entire area of the recording material 2 is completed by repeating the recording operation and the paper feeding operation a predetermined number of times, the recording material 2 is ejected onto the ejection tray 13.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 are arranged at two positions, that is, the upstream side and the downstream side in the recording material conveying direction. May be arranged on either the upstream side or the downstream side. Further, the recording material pressing members 23, 2
Although the torsion coil springs 37 and 38 are used as the urging means of No. 4 in the above-mentioned embodiment, other forms of urging means such as a tension spring, a compression spring, and a leaf spring may be used instead.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drive means (solenoid 43, drive arm) for separating the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 from the recording material 2 so as not to hinder the recording material 2 when it is conveyed. 44) is provided, for example, in the case where one of the recording material pressing members is always on the upstream side in the transport direction or when roll paper is used as the recording material, the recording material pressing member is removed from the recording material. If it is not necessary to separate them, the drive means (solenoid 43, drive arm 44) may be omitted.

According to the embodiment described above, the platen 5 of both or one of the pressing members (pressing rollers) 30 and 36 of the carriage 20 is affected by manufacturing variations or the like.
Even if an error occurs in the height from the recording material pressing member 23, at least the tip end portions 51 and 52 of the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 are kept in close contact with the recording material 2.
It is possible to reliably prevent the contact between the recording head 6 and the recording heads 3 and 24.

Further, since the vertical holes 28, 34 of the recording material pressing members 23, 24 are fitted to the support shafts 27, 33, the support shafts 27, 33 and the upper surface of the platen 5 are vertically moved. The distance is out of the predetermined range and the support shafts 27, 33
Even if there is an error in the height of the recording material, this height error can be absorbed, and the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 can be surely brought into close contact with the recording material 2 by their own weight. It is possible to reliably prevent contact between the recording material pressing members 23 and 24 and the recording head 6.

In the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus has been described as an example, but the present invention is applicable to a wire dot recording apparatus, a laser beam recording apparatus, a thermal transfer recording apparatus, a thermal type recording apparatus. The present invention can be applied to various recording devices regardless of the recording method of a recording device (recording head) such as a recording device, and can achieve similar operational effects. Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments,
The serial type recording apparatus in which the recording unit (recording head) 6 performs main scanning along the recording material 2 has been described as an example, but the present invention corresponds to the whole or a part of the recording width of the recording material. The same can be applied to a line type recording apparatus using a line type recording means, and the same effect can be achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, a recording apparatus for single color recording using one recording means, a recording apparatus for color recording using a plurality of recording means for recording with different colors, or recording with the same color but different densities. The same application can be achieved regardless of the number of recording means, such as a recording apparatus for gradation recording using a plurality of recording means for performing the above, and similar operational effects can be achieved. Further, as the recording means, in addition to the cartridge type in which the recording head and the ink tank are integrated, the recording head and the ink tank are separately provided and connected by an ink supply tube Whatever the configuration is, it can be similarly applied and the same effect can be achieved.

When the present invention is applied to an ink jet recording apparatus, for example, it can be applied to a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element. The present invention brings excellent effects in an inkjet recording apparatus that uses a recording unit that ejects ink by using energy.
This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding its typical structure and principle, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,967. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the Since the electrothermal converter generates heat energy to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. It is valid.

Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make this drive signal into a pulse shape, because the bubble growth and contraction are immediately and appropriately performed, so that the ejection of the liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be achieved. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in No. 24 are adopted, even more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the discharge port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned specifications, US Pat. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4, which disclose a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
The structure using the specification of 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a configuration in which the above is associated with the discharge portion. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording material (recording medium) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. Such a recording head may have a configuration that fills the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, it is possible to electrically connect to the device body or supply ink from the device body by mounting it on the recording head fixed to the device body or on the device body. The present invention is also effective when a replaceable chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself is used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided in the present invention as a configuration of the recording apparatus, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. If these are specifically mentioned,
Capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means, electrothermal converter or other heating element or preheating means by a combination thereof, and ejection different from recording are applied to the recording head. Performing the preliminary ejection mode is also effective for stable recording.

Regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities are supported. And a plurality of them may be provided. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode only for mainstream colors such as black,
The recording head may be integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. However, the present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus having at least one of a mixed color of different colors or a full color of mixed colors.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. Any liquid may be used. in addition,
Whether the temperature rise due to thermal energy is positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation is used. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink which has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one which has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a mode in which it is held as a liquid or a solid in a concave portion or a through hole of a porous sheet and faces the electrothermal converter. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. It may be in the form of the above.

[0053]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a recording apparatus for recording on a recording material by a recording means, a recording material pressing member for pressing the recording material against a platen, And a biasing means for biasing the recording material pressing member in a direction away from the recording means. According to another aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above configuration, the recording material pressing member is covered. Since the pressing member for closely contacting the recording material is provided, even if a positional error occurs in the pressing member pressing the recording material pressing member due to manufacturing variations or the like, at least the tip of the recording material pressing member There is provided a recording apparatus which can bring the recording material into close contact with the recording material and eliminate the contact between the recording material pressing member and the recording head.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part configuration of an embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view showing a state of the recording apparatus of FIG. 1 when a recording material is conveyed.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view showing a recording state of the recording apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording means in FIG.

5 is a schematic partial vertical cross-sectional view showing an ink discharge operation of the ink discharge section of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 cassette 2 recording material 3 pickup roller 4 recording material conveying means 5 platen 6 recording means (recording head) 7 recording material pressing mechanism 11 conveying roller 14 discharge roller 17 arm 19 guide shaft 20 carriage 21 ink 22 bubble 23 recording target Material pressing member 24 Recording material pressing member 26 Arm part 27 Support shaft 28 Long hole 30 Pressing member (pressing roller) 32 Arm part 33 Supporting shaft 34 Long hole 36 Pressing member (pressing roller) 37 Biasing means (biasing spring) 38 Energizing Means (Energizing Spring) 43 Solenoid 44 Drive Arm 51 Tip (Recording Material Pressing Member) 52 Tip (Recording Material Pressing Member) 62 Electrothermal Converter 68 Ejection Port Formation Surface 69 Ejection Port A Recording Material conveying direction B Carriage moving direction a Holding area b Holding area

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording material by a recording means, wherein a recording material pressing member for pressing the recording material against a platen and a recording material pressing member in a direction separating from the recording means. And a biasing unit that biases the recording device. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member for bringing the recording material pressing member into close contact with the recording material. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit is an ink jet recording unit that ejects ink to perform recording. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the recording unit includes an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording unit ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter.