JPH0725083A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an ink jet recording device wherein high image quality is maintained by preventing ink from adhering to a platen, preventing the rear of the material to be recorded from being stained and preventing generation of skewing of the material to be recorded, a wrinkle and a jam which are caused by ink (especially thickened or stuck ink) adhering to the platen. CONSTITUTION:The plane part 25 of a platen 24 is arranged in the position projected at the recording head side from a sheet conveyance path constituted of a vertical scanning roller pair 5 and a tension roller pair 6. Further size of the plane part 25 of the platen 24 is not shorter than recording width in the direction of horizontal scanning and is set shorter than the width of a recording sheet.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer for ejecting ink onto a recording material for recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording device having a function of a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like, or a recording device used as an output device such as a composite electronic device including a computer or a word processor or a workstation is based on image information. An image is recorded on a recording material such as a sheet of paper or a plastic thin plate. These recording devices can be classified into an inkjet type, a wire dot type, a thermal type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a serial scan method of scanning in a direction (main scanning direction) which intersects a conveying direction (sub scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position. After that, an image is recorded (main scanning) by a recording device mounted on a carriage that moves in parallel with the recording material, and after the recording for one line is completed, the recording material is pitched by a predetermined amount and again. Image recording of the entire recording material is performed by repeating the operation of recording (main scanning) the image of the next line on the recording material that has stopped.

On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus for recording only by sub-scanning for conveying a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and after one line of recording is collectively performed. Image recording of the entire recording material is performed by repeating the operation of feeding the recording material by a predetermined amount by pitch and recording the image of the next line (main scanning) again on the recording material that has stopped.

An ink-jet recording type recording apparatus (ink-jet recording apparatus) performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording unit (recording head) onto a recording material, and the recording unit can be easily made compact and high in cost. High-definition images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without requiring special processing, and running costs are low,
Since it is a non-impact system, it has advantages such as less noise and easy recording of color images using multicolor inks. Above all, a recording apparatus using a line type recording means in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the width direction of the recording material can further increase the recording speed.

Particularly, a recording head of an ink jet recording system which discharges ink by utilizing thermal energy is an electrothermal converter, an electrode, a liquid path formed on a substrate through a semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition and sputtering. By forming the wall, the top plate, etc., it is possible to manufacture a device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection opening arrangement), and it is possible to achieve further compactness.

In the above-mentioned serial type ink jet recording apparatus, a recording head having a plurality of ejection openings arranged in the recording material conveying direction is mainly used for the recording material stretched between two pairs of conveying rollers. By reciprocating in the scanning direction, one line of recording is performed during this movement. The recording material is stopped during the recording operation, and when the recording for one line is completed and the recording head returns to the home position, the recording material is fed by a predetermined pitch during that time and then stopped again. Then, by repeating the same operation, image recording is performed on the entire recording material.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the ink ejected from the recording head includes not only ink droplets that contribute to image recording but also minute ink droplets that do not contribute to image recording. "Ink mist") occurs. When this ink mist drifts, peripheral members, such as the platen facing the recording head via the recording material, are contaminated with the ink, and ink stains adhere to the back surface of the recording material or the ink on the platen becomes dirty. When the viscosity is increased, slippage between the recording material and the platen becomes worse, and there is a possibility that conveyance failure, jam (paper jam), skewing, wrinkling, corrugation, or the like may occur. Especially in the platen provided with the air suction means so that the recording material is kept flat,
In particular, ink contamination will progress.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, it has been proposed that a suction fan 52 be provided around the recording head 51 to suck the ink mist M. However, the distance between the recording head 51 and the platen 53 is small. In a full-color recording apparatus in which a plurality of recording heads are provided adjacent to each other, it is difficult to secure a flow path for sucking the ink mist, and it is difficult to completely remove the ink mist M.

If the recording sheet 54 is curled due to environmental changes, the recording sheet 54 is more likely to float above the platen surface, and the ink mist M is more likely to wrap around the back surface of the recording sheet 54.
In order to correct the curl, if the suction force by the suction means 55 is increased, the ink mist M will also be sucked, and the platen 53
Pollution progresses.

Generally, since the distance between the recording head and the platen is as small as 1 mm or less, wrinkles or the like on the recording material may come into contact with the recording head and significantly deteriorate the image quality. Further, there is a possibility that paper powder or the like may adhere to the ejection port to hinder the ink ejection, or the recording material may be clogged between the recording head and the platen to damage the recording head or the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, prevent ink from adhering to the platen to prevent the back surface of the recording material from becoming dirty, and prevent ink from adhering to the platen (particularly thickened or fixed ink). It is an object of the present invention to provide an inkjet recording apparatus capable of maintaining a high image quality by preventing skewing, wrinkling, jamming, etc. of a recording material due to (1).

[0013]

A typical constitution of the present invention, which achieves the above objects and is applied to the embodiments described below, is as follows.
At a recording position facing the recording means, a conveying means for conveying the recording material, a recording means for ejecting ink to the recording material according to image information to record an image, and a recording position facing the recording material. A platen for supporting the recording material supporting surface of the platen, the width size of which is equal to or larger than the recording width and shorter than the recording material width, and the recording material supporting surface is disposed so as to protrude from the conveying path of the recording material toward the recording unit side. It is characterized by being done.

[0014]

According to the above means, the recording material supporting surface of the platen has a width size equal to or larger than the recording width and shorter than the recording material width, and is projected toward the recording means side from the conveying path of the recording material.
Both ends in the width direction of the recording material supported on the platen are separated from the recording means, and the recording material completely covers the recording material supporting surface of the platen, so that the ink mist discharged by the recording means adheres to the platen. Prevent.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing the overall configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording unit, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording head, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the platen, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the state of the recording material supported by the platen.

First, a schematic structure of an ink jet recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Conveying means)

In FIG. 1, an ink jet recording apparatus P
Is configured to perform recording based on the image signal from the reading unit R that reads the document image. At the bottom of the recording device P, a long recording material (hereinafter referred to as “recording sheet”) 1 is wound and stored in a roll shape. The recording sheet 1 is conveyed while being pulled out by the first conveying roller pair 2 and the second conveying roller pair 3. Then, the recording sheet 1 is guided to the sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the tension roller pair 6 via the cutter 4.

Further, the recording sheets 1 which have been cut into a standard size in advance are sent one by one from the feeding section 7 by the pickup roller 8, and the second conveying roller pair 3 passes through the cutter 4 and the sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the pulling roller. It is transported to pair 6. The sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the tension roller pair 6
Are connected to a motor (not shown) so that they can be synchronously driven. During conveyance, the pulling roller pair 6 rotates at a peripheral speed slightly higher than that of the sub-scanning roller pair 5. The pair of sub-scanning rollers 5 accurately feeds the recording sheet 1 to the recording unit 9 described later, and its rotation is accurately controlled.

Recording on the recording sheet 1 is performed by a recording unit 9 provided between the sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the tension roller pair 6. The recording unit 9 is provided with a recording head 10 for forming an image on the recording sheet 1. The recording head 10 is mounted on a first carriage 11, and the first carriage 11 is a pair of guide rails.
The recording sheet 1 is supported along 12 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the width direction (perpendicular to the drawing). Recording sheet 1 after recording
Is conveyed by a pair of discharge rollers 13 and discharged from the discharge port 14 to the outside of the apparatus.

(Recording means)

The recording head 10 records the ink image of the recording sheet 1 stretched between the sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the tension roller pair 6. As a recording unit in this apparatus, an inkjet recording system is used in which ink is ejected from a plurality of recording heads for recording. That is, this recording head has a fine liquid discharge port (orifice), a liquid passage and an energy acting portion provided in a part of this liquid passage, and energy generation for generating droplet forming energy for acting on the liquid in the acting portion. Equipped with means.

As an energy generating means for generating such energy, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, electromagnetic waves such as a laser are radiated to generate heat, and droplets are ejected by the action of the heat generation. There are a recording method using an energy generating means, a recording method using an energy generating means for heating a liquid and discharging the liquid by an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistor.

Among them, the recording head used in the ink jet recording method for ejecting a liquid by thermal energy has a high density of liquid ejection ports (orifices) for ejecting recording liquid droplets to form ejection liquid droplets. Since they can be arranged, high resolution recording is possible. Among them, the recording head using the electrothermal converter as the energy generating means can easily be made compact, and has the advantages of the IC technology and the microfabrication technology, which have been remarkably improved in technology and reliability in the recent semiconductor field. This is advantageous because it can be used in two parts, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording heads 10 mounted on the first carriage 11 have different inks (cyan,
It is equipped with four recording heads 10C, 10M, 10Y, and 10B that use magenta, yellow, and black). In the following description, any one or all of the recording heads 10C, 10M, 10Y, and 10B will be referred to simply as the recording head 10.

FIG. 3 schematically shows the structure of the ink ejection portion of the recording head 10. In FIG. 3, a plurality of ink ejection ports 10b are formed at a predetermined pitch on the ejection port surface 10a facing the recording sheet 1 at a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 1.5 mm), and the common liquid chamber 10c and each ejection port 10b are formed. exit
An electrothermal converter (heat-generating resistor, etc.) 10e for generating energy for ejecting ink is provided along the wall surface of each liquid path 10d communicating with 10b. The recording head 10 according to the present embodiment is formed so that the plurality of ejection ports 10b are arranged in a direction intersecting with the main scanning direction (moving direction) of the first carriage 11. Based on the image signal or the ejection signal, the corresponding electrothermal converter 10e is driven (energized) to film-boil the ink in the liquid passage 10d, and the pressure generated at that time ejects the ink droplet from the ejection port 10b. It is configured.

In FIG. 2, an ink tank (for example, an ink cartridge) 15 for supplying ink to the recording head 10 is mounted on a second carriage 16 that moves in the main scanning direction in synchronization with the first carriage 11. There is. The ink tank 15 has four ink tanks 15C, 15M, 15Y, and 15B corresponding to the four recording heads 10. These ink tanks include cyan, magenta, yellow, and
Each color ink of black is stored. The ink in the ink tanks 15C, 15M, 15Y and 15B is supplied to the recording heads 10C, 10M, 10Y and 10B via tubes 17C, 17M, 17Y and 17B by a pump (not shown). still,
In the following description, when referring to any one or all of the ink tanks 15C, 15M, 15Y, 15B and the tubes 17C, 17M, 17Y, 17B, the ink tank 15 and the tube 17 are simply referred to.
Shall be shown.

(Recording head carrier)

In FIG. 2, a first carriage 11 having a recording head 10 mounted thereon has a drive pulley 19a connected to a first drive motor 18, a driven pulley 19b, and a belt 20 wound around the driven pulley 19a in the direction of arrow B. It will be moved back and forth. The first drive motor 18 regulates the main scanning of the recording head 10 (the recording position in the width direction of the recording sheet 1), and is controlled with high accuracy in forward and reverse rotation. The second carriage 16 of the ink tank 15 is a drive pulley connected to the second drive motor 21.
It is reciprocated in the direction of arrow B in synchronism with the first carriage 11 via a belt 22a, a driven pulley 22b, and a belt 23 stretched over these pulleys. In this embodiment, the recording head 10 and the ink tank 15 are synchronized with each other so as to be movable in the main scanning direction, thereby eliminating the stress applied to the ink supply tube 17. Further, by separately driving the first carriage 11 of the recording head 10 and the second carriage of the ink tank 15, vibrations and the like generated by the movement of the ink tank 15 which is a relatively heavy body propagates to the recording head 10. Is being prevented.

(Platen)

In FIG. 2, the recording sheet 1 is stretched by being sandwiched between the sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the tension roller pair 6, and recording is performed by the recording head 10 between these roller pairs. The conveyance speed of the tension roller pair 6 is set to be slightly higher than the conveyance speed of the sub-scanning roller pair 5, and the recording sheet 1 is conveyed so as to maintain its flatness by applying an appropriate tension. A flat platen 24 is provided at a recording position where the recording head 10 and the recording sheet 1 face each other.
Is provided to support the recording sheet 1 from the back side. The platen 24 is equipped with an air suction device, which will be described later, and is configured to hold the recording sheet 1 in close contact with the platen 24.

(Recording operation)

As shown in FIG. 2, in the recording sheet 1 stretched by being sandwiched between the sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the tension roller pair 6, recording by the recording head 10 is started from the left side of the drawing and the recording width H Image recording is performed on the right side, and recording for one line is completed. The recording by the recording head 10 is performed based on the image information obtained by the reading unit R. When the recording for one line is completed, the first and second carriages 11 and 16 are returned to a predetermined position on the left side (carriage return). During the return movement of the carriages 11 and 16, the sub-scanning roller pair 5
The pulling roller pair 6 is driven by a predetermined amount to convey the recording sheet 1 in the direction of arrow A by a predetermined amount (usually, an amount corresponding to the width of one line). The sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the tension roller pair 6
After stopping the driving of the recording sheet 1 to finish the conveyance of the recording sheet 1,
Recording of the next line starts. Hereinafter, by repeating the same recording operation, recording on the recording sheet 1 is performed, and a full-color image can be formed. The recording sheet 1 is cut into a desired length in advance by the cutter 4 shown in FIG. 1, and after the recording is completed, the recording sheet 1 is discharged from the discharge port 14 to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 13.

(Structure of Platen)

Next, the structure of the platen 24 in the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus P will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, the recording sheet 1 of the platen 24
A plurality of suction holes 26 are formed in the flat surface portion 25 that supports the blower 27 and the suction distributor 28 in the platen 24.
Is connected to a suction tube 29. When the blower 27 is operated, the suction distributor 28 and the suction tube are
Air is sucked from the suction hole 26 via 29, and the recording sheet 1
Is held on the flat surface portion 25 by suction. The plane portion 25 is arranged at a position projecting toward the recording head 10 side from the sheet conveying path formed by the sub-scanning roller pair 5 and the tension roller pair 6.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the size of the flat portion 25 of the platen 24 is set to be larger than the recording width in the main scanning direction and shorter than the width of the recording sheet 1. The suction holes 26 are formed within the recording width.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the recording sheet 1 is adsorbed and held on the platen 24. Recording sheet 1 is platen 24
It is adsorbed and held on the flat surface portion 25 and faces the recording head 10. Since the platen flat portion 25 is projected and the platen 24 is shorter than the sheet width in the main scanning direction, both ends of the recording sheet 1 in the width direction are separated from the recording head 10, and the flat portion 25 causes the recording sheet 1 to move. Can be prevented from rising. For example, even if a recording sheet having curls at both ends in the width direction or a fibrous material which easily causes fraying or fluff of fibers at both ends in the width direction is used, since both ends in the width direction are separated from the recording head 10, recording is performed. It is possible to maintain high image quality by preventing contact with the head 10 and preventing paper dust, dust, etc. from adhering to the ink ejection surface.

Further, since the floating of both ends of the recording sheet 1 in the width direction is prevented, the ink mist floating around the recording head 10 is prevented from advancing to the flat portion 25 of the platen 24 and the back surface side of the recording sheet 1 and adhering thereto. It is possible to prevent the backside of the recording sheet 1 from being soiled.

Further, since the platen 24 is extremely low temperature as compared with the ink mist, the ink mist floating around the recording head 10 is likely to be condensed on the platen 24. In this embodiment, since the platen 24 is completely covered by the recording sheet 1 and has no exposed portion when viewed from the recording head 10 side, the ink mist does not condense and accumulate.

Furthermore, the ink mist floating around the recording head 10 can be completely removed from the recording portion 9 by providing a suction duct 30 around the recording head 10 as shown in FIG.

According to the above structure, the flat portion 25 of the platen 24
Is greater than or equal to the recording width and shorter than the sheet width, and is disposed so as to project toward the recording head 10 side from the conveyance path of the recording sheet 1, so that both ends in the width direction of the recording sheet 1 supported on the platen 24 are disposed at the recording head 10. The recording sheet 1 is separated from the flat surface 25 by the flat portion 25.
The ink mist discharged from the recording head 10 can be prevented from adhering to the platen 24 because it is completely covered with the recording head 10 and the backside of the recording sheet 1 can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of skewing, wrinkles, jams and the like of the recording sheet 1 due to the ink (especially thickened or fixed ink) adhering to the platen 24 and maintain a high image quality.

[Other Embodiments]

Next, another example of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a), 7 (b) and 7 (c). The schematic configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and the same members are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is cited.

Although there are various sizes of the recording sheet 1 used in the ink jet recording apparatus P, in the above embodiment, the long recording sheet 1 was cut into a predetermined size in the length direction and used. In contrast, the main scanning direction (width direction)
With respect to recording materials having different sizes, the ink mist can be prevented from adhering to the platen by adopting the same structure at both ends in the width direction as in the above embodiment. Hereinafter, description will be made focusing on the configuration of the platen.

First, in FIG. 7A, the platen 24 is supported on the platen base 31, and the platen 24 is divided into two large and small platens 24a and 24b. A space 32 is formed between the divided platens 24a and 24b, and the width direction end of the recording sheet 1 is bent. The space 32 is provided with a movable piece 33 that can be moved up and down. .

FIG. 7A shows a state in which the recording sheet 1 of a small size is supported on the large platen 24a in the width direction, and the moving piece 33 is lowered to form the space 32. In the suction operation at this time, the blower 27 is operated and the suction distributor 29 sucks air only through the suction tube 29a. Further, when the large-sized recording sheet 1 is supported on the platen 24, the movable top 33 is raised to form substantially the same plane as the plane portions 24c and 24d of both platens 24a and 24b, as shown in FIG. As well as support. In the suction operation at this time, the blower 27 is operated and the suction distributor 29 sucks air from both the suction tubes 29a and 29b.

Next, referring to FIG. 7B, in the present embodiment, when the small-sized recording sheet 1 is supported on the large platen 24a, the small platen 24b is moved in the main scanning direction. . A tension spring 34 is stretched between the platen base 31 and the small platen 24b, and the small platen 24b
Is biased to the right in the drawing. Also the above small platen 24b
An eccentric cam 35 is rotatably provided in the vicinity of.

The small-sized recording sheet 1 is attached to the large platen 24a.
7B, when the eccentric cam 35 is displaced as shown in FIG. 7B, the restoring force of the tension spring 34 causes the small platen 24b to move to the right in the drawing so that the space 32 is formed between the small platen 24b and the large platen 24a. It is formed. The suction operation at this time is performed by the blower 27
And the suction distributor 29 sucks air only through the suction tube 29a.

Further, the large-sized recording sheet 1 is attached to the platen 24
In the case of supporting it on the upper side, the eccentric cam 35 is displaced 180 ° from the state shown in FIG.
b is moved to the left side of the drawing so as to be continuous with the large platen 24a, and the plane portions 24c and 24d of both platens 24a and 24b are formed in substantially the same plane and supported in the same manner as in FIG. In the suction operation at this time, the blower 27 is operated and the suction distributor 29 sucks air from both the suction tubes 29a and 29b.

Next, referring to FIG. 7 (c), in this embodiment, when the small-sized recording sheet 1 is supported on the large platen 24a, the small platen 24b can be moved in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet 1. It is configured in. Small platen 24
The side surface b of the plate b is rotatably attached to a part of the platen base 31 via a pin 36. Also the above small platen
The back side of 24b is urged by the tension spring 37 toward the platen base 31 side (counterclockwise direction around the pin 36).
An eccentric cam 38 is rotatably provided in the vicinity of the back surface side of the small platen 24b, and the small platen 24b is configured to move up and down around a pin 36 by the displacement of the eccentric cam 38.

A small size recording sheet 1 is attached to the large platen 30a.
7C, when the eccentric cam 38 is displaced as shown in FIG. 7C, the restoring force of the tension spring 37 causes the small platen 24b to slightly rotate counterclockwise around the pin 36, The plane portion 24d descends from the plane portion 24c, and a space portion 32 is formed between the plane portion 24d and the large platen 24a. In the suction operation at this time, the blower 27 is operated and the suction distributor 29 sucks air only through the suction tube 29a.

Also, the large-sized recording sheet 1 is attached to the platen 24.
To support it above, the eccentric cam 38 is displaced 180 ° from the state shown in FIG.
b is rotated slightly about the pin 36 in the clockwise direction so as to be continuous with the large platen 24a, and the flat portions 24c and 24d of both platens 24a and 24b form substantially the same plane as shown in FIG. Likewise support. The suction operation at this time is a blower
Suction tube 29 by suction distributor 29 by activating 27
Air is sucked from both a and 29b.

Incidentally, in FIG. 7C, the small platen 24b
It is possible to configure not only the rotation but also the vertical movement in parallel with the platen base 31.

Although the recording head used in each of the above-described embodiments uses an ink jet recording system, the ink is heated by energizing the electrothermal converter according to a recording signal and applying thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. It is more preferable to perform the recording by ejecting the ink from the ejection port due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles generated in the ink by utilizing the film boiling generated in the above.

With regard to its typical structure and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type, but in the case of the on-demand type in particular, it is arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink). By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal transducer, which corresponds to the recorded information and gives a rapid temperature rise beyond nucleate boiling,
This is effective because heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, bubbles in the liquid can be formed in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. Due to the growth and contraction of the bubbles, the liquid 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 bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, so that particularly excellent liquid ejection can be achieved.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise on the heat acting surface are adopted, 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 straight liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. The present invention also includes configurations using US Pat. Nos. 4,558,333 and 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which the heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.

Further, JP-A-59-123670, which discloses a structure 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 are disclosed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
The effect of the present invention is effective even if the configuration is based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-138461. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be surely and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

In addition to the serial type recording head described above, a replaceable chip type recording head which can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can be supplied with ink from the apparatus main body by being mounted on the carriage. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is integrally provided in the recording head itself may be used.

Further, it is preferable to add a recovery means for the recording head, a preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, these are capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suctioning means for the recording head, preheating means by electrothermal conversion type or other heating element or a combination thereof, and recording. It is also effective to perform a stable recording by performing a preliminary discharge mode in which another discharge is performed.

Regarding the type or number of recording heads mounted on the carriage, 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 a recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be a combination of a plurality of recording heads integrally formed, but a mixed color of different colors or a mixed color It is also applicable to a device with at least one of the full colors according to

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or in the ink jet recording system. 30 inks
Generally, the temperature is controlled in the range of ℃ or more and 70 ℃ or less to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is in the stable ejection range. good. In addition, it is possible to prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or to use the ink that solidifies when left standing for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation. However, in any case, heat is applied such as ink that is liquefied by application of heat energy according to the recording signal and liquid ink is ejected, or that begins to solidify when it reaches the recording sheet. It is also applicable when using an ink that has the property of being liquefied for the first time by energy.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-5.
As described in JP-A-6847 or JP-A-60-71260, such as facing the electrothermal converter in a state of being held as a liquid or a solid in a multi-hole sheet recess or through hole. It may be in the form. The most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Further, as the form of the above-mentioned ink jet recording device, in addition to a form used as an image output terminal of an information processing device such as a computer, a form of a copying device combined with a reader or the like, and a form of a facsimile device having a transmitting / receiving function. It may be something to take.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, the recording material supporting surface of the platen is equal to or larger than the recording width and shorter than the recording material width, and is arranged so as to project from the conveying path of the recording material to the recording means side. As a result, both ends in the width direction of the recording material supported on the platen are separated from the recording means, and the recording material supporting surface plane is completely covered with the recording material, so that the ink mist discharged from the recording means adheres to the platen. It is possible to prevent the recording material from being smeared and prevent the back surface of the recording material from being soiled.

Further, it is possible to prevent generation of skew, wrinkles, jams, etc. of the recording material due to the ink (particularly thickened or fixed ink) adhering to the platen, thereby maintaining high image quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing the overall configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a recording unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a recording head.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a recording unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a platen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a recording material supported by a platen.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a platen according to another example.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a conventional recording unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P ... Inkjet recording device R ... Reading unit 1 ... Recording sheet 2 ... First conveying roller pair 3 ... Second conveying roller pair 4 ... Cutter 5 ... Sub-scanning roller pair 6 ... Tension roller pair 7 ... Feeding unit 8 ... Pickup roller 9 ... Recording unit 10 ... Recording head 10a ... Discharge port surface 10b ... Discharge port 10c ... Common liquid chamber 10d ... Liquid path 10e ... Electrothermal converter 11 ... First carriage 12 ... Guide rail 13 ... Discharge roller pair 14 ... Discharge port 15 ... Ink tank 16 ... Second carriage 17 ... Ink tube 18 ... First drive motor 19a, 22a ... Drive pulley 19b, 22b ... Followed pulley 20, 23 ... Belt 21 ... Second drive motor 24 ... Platen 24c, 24d, 25 … Plane part 26… Suction hole 27… Blower 28… Suction distributor 29… Suction tube 30… Suction duct 31… Platen base 32… Space part 33… Moving piece 34, 37… Extension spring 35, 38… Eccentric cam 36… pin

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A conveying means for conveying a recording material, a recording means for ejecting ink to the recording material according to image information to record an image, and the recording material as a recording means. Inkjet recording, comprising: a platen for supporting at a recording position facing each other, wherein a recording material supporting surface of the platen is arranged such that a width size is equal to or larger than a recording width and shorter than a recording material width. apparatus. 2. A conveying means for conveying a recording material, a recording means for ejecting ink to the recording material according to image information to record an image, and the recording material as a recording means. A platen for supporting at a recording position facing each other, and a recording material supporting surface of the platen has a width size equal to or larger than a recording width and shorter than a recording material width, and is closer to a recording unit than a recording material conveyance path. An ink jet recording apparatus, characterized in that the ink jet recording apparatus is arranged so as to protrude from the surface. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an air suction unit is provided around the recording unit. 4. The recording means is mounted on a carrier and is capable of reciprocating in the main scanning direction, and a part of the recording material supporting surface of the platen is different in the main scanning direction depending on the width of the recording material. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus moves in a direction perpendicular to a recording material supporting surface. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means includes an electrothermal converter for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink. 6. The ink jet recording according to claim 5, wherein the recording means ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing the film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. apparatus.