JPH082063A - Image recording device using fixing means - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To maintain ink fixing effect while confirming the operation state of a recording device by forming a fixing section on a position where one part can pass through a fixation accelerating area of the fixing section while at least another part of a medium to be recorded passes through a recording area. CONSTITUTION:A fixing device 20 is positioned on the downstream side of a recording head 10 in the paper ejection direction, and a section to be recorded of a material to be recorded is arranged to pass through the fixing device 20 after the completion of recording. In that case, the fixing device 20 is set on a position where one part of a medium to be recorded can pass through an area of a fixing means 26 of the fixing device 20 while at least another part of the medium to be recorded passes a recording area of the recording head 10. Recording width by width is performed by the recording head 10 in an image recording device 3, and the material to be recorded is transferred successively by self-scanning. Feeding is continued thereafter until the material to be recorded is passed through the fixing device 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium (plain paper) which is intermittently conveyed in a recording area by using recording means (preferably ink jet recording means for ejecting and ejecting ink droplets) using ink. , Processed paper, cloth, OHP paper, thin plate,
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that uses a fixing unit for forming a desired image on plastic, metal, etc., and if necessary, for promoting fixing of the image recorded on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A specific example of an image recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied is a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a composite apparatus of these.
It is provided with a recording unit that uses wire dot type ink, thermal type ink (liquid, solid type ribbon or sheet, etc.).

Particularly in recent years, the ink jet technology has little noise and is easy to record a color image by using multicolor ink as a printer unit of a printer, a copying machine, a printer built in a computer or a word processor. It has been put to practical use because of its advantages. In this practical application, the effect of heat generation instead of the piezo element,
A technology using a heat energy generating element such as an electrothermal converter that discharges and flies droplets has made a great contribution. Inkjet technology that uses a technology that uses a thermal energy generating element such as an electrothermal converter ejects recording ink droplets and arranges ejection ports for forming flying droplets at a high density. It is possible to perform high-speed recording with high resolution, it is easy to be compact in structure, technological innovation in the semiconductor field can be adopted, the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology can be fully utilized, and the head length is long. It is possible to more easily carry out the process of forming, planarizing (two-dimensional), making the ejection ports multi-dimensional, densifying, and finely processing the ejection port surface. Moreover, mass productivity is good and the manufacturing cost is low.

As a known ink jet head having a multiple discharge port manufactured through a semiconductor process by using an electrothermal converter as an energy generating means, a liquid path corresponding to each discharge port is provided, and the liquid path is provided. There is known a structure in which an electrothermal converter is provided for each and a liquid is supplied to each liquid passage from a common liquid chamber communicating with each liquid passage. A method which has been particularly put into practical use and has many advantages is that the liquid on the surface of the electrothermal converter is rapidly heated by energizing the electrothermal converter, and preferably, a firing phenomenon such as film boiling occurs, and the firing is performed. Droplets are ejected from the ejection opening surface by the energy of the liquid, and the scanning type inkjet recording head has a multi-liquid path of 128 liquid paths or 256 liquid paths or more in a high-density liquid path arrangement of 16 liquid paths / mm. Can be used.

On the other hand, in the image recording apparatus for recording on the recording medium by the recording means using the above ink, a good recording image is formed on the OHP paper having a poor ink fixing property and various kinds of plain paper as the recording medium. In order to achieve high-speed recording, a fixing means (heating heater or heating plate, dielectric heating, laser heating, hot air, etc.) for accelerating the fixing of the recorded image should be provided. Has been done.

In this typical structure, the fixing means is caused to act on the recording area facing the recording means, and the recording area and the fixing area are continuous or part of the common area. Therefore, the recording medium is intermittently conveyed in the recording area of the scanning ink recording unit, so that recording and fixing are completed substantially at the same time.

On the other hand, it is known that the fixing area is provided at a position farther from the ink recording area than the length of the recording medium in the conveying direction. According to the present invention, the fixing conditions in the fixing area can be freely set to enable fixing suitable for the type of recording medium. The present invention not only requires a long time until the recording medium is ejected from the apparatus, but also cannot obtain the effect of directly improving the ink fixing efficiency.

This is because the fixing promotion effect of the recording medium on which the ink is recorded has a small effect of improving the quality of the recorded image when the recording medium is separated from the recording region by the above-mentioned specification, and therefore, the end point of the fixing region is set. It is not preferable to set the position far away from the recording area, but far away. Therefore, it takes a certain amount of time for the recording medium on which recording is performed according to the final signal of the image signal in the recording area to pass through the fixing area. At that time, the recording medium is intermittently conveyed under the same recording medium conveyance condition during recording and during the fixing process after the recording. Moreover, even a slow-drying recording medium that requires fixing promotion or a quick-drying recording medium that does not require fixing promotion are intermittently conveyed under the same recording medium conveyance conditions.

[0009]

However, as in the above-mentioned conventional example, the fixing portion is provided at a position where at least a part of the recording medium passes through the recording area and another part passes through the fixing promotion area. In the case of the configuration provided, after the recording according to the signal on the recording medium is completed, when the recording medium passes through the fixing section, the scanning recording head does not reciprocate and scan, and the recording medium Only the transport will be intermittently fed. Therefore, the stopped state of the recording medium in this intermittent feed is
From the operator's point of view, the entire device appears to be in a non-operational state, and is likely to be mistaken for a malfunction or malfunction of the device, and the operator's strong anxiety and the loss of sound due to the stop of the device emphasize the slow motion. It had a negative psychological effect such as a feeling of irritation.

In addition to this, even a slow-drying recording medium that requires fixing promotion or a quick-drying recording medium that does not require fixing promotion, are intermittently conveyed under the same recording medium conveyance conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to wait an unnecessarily long time when recording on a fast-drying recording medium.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to fix a fixing unit at a position where at least a part of a recording medium passes through the recording area while another part passes through the fixing promoting area. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of maintaining the ink fixing effect while allowing the operator to confirm the operating state of the recording apparatus on the assumption that Second of the present invention
The purpose of is to reduce the psychological adverse effect of the device user while effectively obtaining the ink fixing effect, without causing an erroneous operation,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording device capable of achieving efficient recording.

According to the present invention, recording means for recording an image on a recording medium in a recording area, conveying means for intermittently conveying the recording medium, and recording means at a position downstream of the recording area in the conveying direction of the conveying means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a fixing unit for accelerating the fixing of an image recorded on a recording medium, wherein the fixing unit is configured such that at least a part of the recording medium passes through the recording area. The other part is provided at a position that passes through the fixing promotion area, and the first recording medium fixing conveyance condition for intermittently recording on the recording medium in the recording area and the recording area in the recording area. It is characterized by further comprising control means for making different the second recording medium fixing and conveying condition until at least the image forming area of the recording medium passes through the fixing means after recording on the recording medium. image There is provided a recording apparatus. According to the present invention, the fixing and conveying condition of the recording medium, that is, the fixing and conveying condition including the heated condition and the conveying condition for the recording medium to pass through the substantial fixing area as elements are changed after the recording is completed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a state suitable for the operator's request, and it is possible to provide a reasonable operating state of the recording apparatus without deteriorating the ink fixing property.

Further, in the present invention, more specifically, the control means determines the total heating amount received by the fixing means by a unit area of the recording medium conveyed under the first recording medium fixing and conveying condition. In order to give a unit area of the recording medium on which the recording is completed in the recording area, the second
The time required until the recording is completed is configured by including a switching unit that changes the intermittent feeding condition so that the recording medium fixing and conveying condition increases the conveying speed of the recording medium compared to the first recording medium fixing and conveying condition. There is an effect that can shorten.

Further, according to the present invention, the controller controls the total heating amount received by the fixing means by a unit area of the recording medium transported under the first recording medium fixing and transporting condition, in the recording area. The second recording medium fixing and conveying condition is compared with the first recording medium fixing and conveying condition so that the stop time of the recording medium is given to the unit area of the recording medium on which recording is completed. By adopting a configuration having switching means for changing the intermittent feed condition so as to be reduced, it is possible to reduce the substantial stop time, so that the operator's erroneous operation of the recording device and the strong anxiety of the operator are eliminated. can do.

Further, by making the fixing means of the present invention attachable / detachable to / from the image recording apparatus, the fixing means can be attached to an apparatus for recording without using the fixing means, if necessary. Since the control means can be operated at this time, it is possible to provide the image recording apparatus capable of achieving the recording without the inconvenience. According to the usage state of the fixing unit, the image recording apparatus is provided with a configuration for changing the first recording medium fixing and conveying condition depending on whether the fixing unit is operated or not. As a result, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus provided with a more comprehensive recording medium fixing / conveying condition with less waste in each mode relating to each fixing unit.

In each of the above-mentioned constitutions of the present invention, the preferable fixing means adopts a constitution in which the heating condition of the second recording medium conveyance condition is improved over the heating condition of the first recording medium fixing conveyance condition. Alternatively, a preliminary fixing unit may be added and operated under the above-mentioned second recording medium conveyance condition, but in any case, the fixing efficiency of the image recording apparatus can be improved and it is necessary for recording. This has the effect of further shortening the required time.

Further, according to the present invention, the recording means has a constitution of an ink jet recording means for causing film boiling in the ink by the heat generated by the electrothermal converter to eject the ink from the ejection port. The image recording apparatus of the present invention can provide the image characteristic of the ink recording by the synergistic effect of the recording unit and the improvement of the fixing efficiency. It is thought that the description of the following examples will provide a better understanding of the operation of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and all that is included in the technical disclosure of the present invention described above. The present invention includes the following.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the image recording apparatus. In FIG. 4, a recording material loading cassette 1 for loading a recording material as a recording medium that is attachable to and detachable from the image recording device 3 is a mounting portion 4 of the image recording device 3.
Further, the recording material is set inside the image recording apparatus 3 by being inserted until it abuts the lower portion 5a of the recording material guide 5. The recording material 2 stacked on the recording material loading cassette 1 is separated into one sheet by the separation claw 8 by rotating the paper feeding roller, passes between the guide 5 and the guide 6, and passes through the sub-scanning roller. Delivered to Pair 9. This recording material 2
Is intermittently fed along the platen 11 by the recording width by the sub-scanning roller pair 9.

A recording head 10 that reciprocates in the width direction of the recording material 2 along a guide rail 10a is provided at a position facing the platen 11, and ink is ejected from the recording head 10 according to an image signal. By doing so, recording is performed for each recording width, and the sheet is sequentially ejected onto the sheet ejection tray 13 by the sheet ejection roller pair 12. A recording material such as an OHP sheet which is not suitable for cassette feeding or a recording material having a size not stored in the cassette 1 is inserted from the manual feed tray 14,
The paper is fed to the sub-scanning roller pair 9 by the manual feed conveyance roller pair 15, and thereafter, recording is performed in the same procedure as in the case of the recording material 2 fed from the cassette 1 described above, and is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 13. .

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the conveying means and the drive transmission mechanism of the fixing device 20, and FIG. 1 is the fixing device 2 of FIG.
5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which 0 is attached to the image recording device 3 of FIG. 4. In FIG. 3, the fixing device 20 is the image recording device 3
On the other hand, instead of the cassette 1, the recording material loading cassette 1 is detachably mounted. 1 and 3, the image recording device 3 to the guide 25 of the fixing device 20.
The recording material conveyed to is conveyed to the heater plate 26 by the conveying roller 21 and the pinch rollers 22 pressing only the both side edge portions of the recording material outside the recording area. A self-temperature control type heating element 26a is attached to the back surface of the heater plate 26.

Here, when the recording material passes over the heater plate 26, the recording material on which the ink is recorded is immediately heated and fixed, and is fixed by the efficient heating action without lowering the image quality. After this heating, the recording material is discharged onto the discharge tray 27 by the discharge roller 23 and the pinch roller 24. Since the peripheral speed of the discharge roller 23 is about 1% faster than the convergence of the conveying roller 21, the recording material exerts a tensile force in the conveying direction between the conveying roller 21 and the discharging roller 23. It is given and can be more closely attached to the heater plate 26.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing the transport mechanism of the image recording apparatus 3 and the transport means and drive transmission mechanism of the fixing device 20 in FIG. 2 and 3, the transport roller 21 and the paper discharge roller 23 of the fixing device 20 are rotated via the relay gear train 29 as the drive gear 28 rotates. On both sides of the fixing device 20 on the image recording device 3 side, a coupling means (coupling portion) 20c for coupling with the image recording device
Is provided. These coupling means 20 are portions that are almost inserted into the image recording device 3 when the fixing device 20 is mounted. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the relay gear train 29 is incorporated inside one side of the coupling means 20c.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing device 20 is
After folding the discharge tray 13 (FIG. 4) of the image recording device 3, the recording material loading cassette 1 is removed, and the coupling means 20c is inserted from the mounting portion 4 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the image recording device 3. By doing so, it is detachably attached. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the abutting portions 20a provided on the coupling means 20c on both sides of the mounted fixing device 20 have locking portions 3a on both sides of the image recording device 3 (FIGS. 2 and 5). The image recording device 3 is held in a fixed position by hitting against the retaining portions 20b on both sides. The recording material loading cassette 1 is mounted on the guide 5
The cassette 1 is positioned by abutting the tip of the cassette 1 against the lower portion 5a of the cassette 1 and is fitted by fitting the protrusions 1a and 1b of the cassette into the recesses or holes 31a and 31b of the main body.

Further, when the fixing device 20 is fixed at a fixed position of the image recording device 3, the drive gear 28 is fixed to the end of the sub-scanning roller 9 of the image recording device 3 and the drive gear 9a.
Since they mesh with (FIGS. 2 and 5), the transport roller 21 and the paper discharge roller 23 of the fixing device 20 rotate in synchronization with the rotation of the sub-scanning roller 9. Since the peripheral speed of the conveyance roller 21 is about 1% faster than the convergence of the sub-scanning roller 9, the recording material is conveyed in a state where the recording material is more likely to come into close contact with the heater plate 26. When the fixing device 20 is detached from the image recording device 3, the retaining portion 20b is disengaged from the hook portion 3b by pulling the tip portion 20d upward while pulling out the fixing portion 20d.

Here, in the image recording apparatus 3 in FIG. 4, the manual feeding is performed by using the dedicated manual feeding roller 15, but in FIG. 1, the manual feeding is performed without providing a dedicated roller pair. It enables paper feeding.
That is, the front end of the recording material 2 inserted along the manual sheet conveyance guide 100 has the paper ejection roller pair 1 of the image recording device 3.
When it hits the nip portion of No. 2, the detection unit (not shown) detects the insertion of the recording material 2, and the paper discharge roller pair 12 and the sub-scanning roller pair 9 are reversely rotated based on the detection signal and manually inserted. The recording material 2 is drawn into the guide 101 of the image recording device 3. Then, as soon as the trailing edge of the recording material 2 passes the detection means, the sub-scanning roller pair 9 and the paper discharge roller pair 12 are reversely driven in the forward rotation direction, and thereafter, as in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. Recording is performed through a similar process.

In the above-mentioned structure, the fixing device 20
Is positioned on the downstream side of the recording head 10 in the paper discharge direction, the recording portion of the recording material 2 passes through the fixing device after the recording is completed. Here, the fixing unit is provided at a position where at least a part of the recording medium passes through the recording area and another part of the recording medium passes through the fixing promoting area. Here, the image recording apparatus 3 is configured to perform recording by recording width by a reciprocating recording head, sequentially feed the recording material 2 by sub-scanning, and perform recording on the entire recording material. In the image recording device 3 having such a configuration, when the fixing device 20 is provided on the downstream side of the recording area of the recording unit, the image recording device 3 keeps recording material 2 discharged from the fixing device 20 even after the recording is completed. , The recording material must be transported. At this time, the recording head 1
It is not necessary to operate 0, and the recording material 2 may be conveyed by driving only the sub-scan.

Therefore, after the recording, the feeding setting of the recording material 2 is set only by stopping the driving of the recording head 10 from the operation control during recording, and the trailing edge of the recording material is discharged from the fixing device 20. The simplest method is to carry out intermittent feeding until the number of steps of intermittent feeding or the trailing edge detection means such as a sensor provided in the fixing device detects the ejection of the trailing edge of the recording material.

However, when such a simplest method is performed by the image recording apparatus 3, after the recording is completed, the feeding in the sub-scanning direction is stopped for a time corresponding to the recording, which corresponds to the reciprocal scanning in the main scanning direction. After the elapse of time, the feeding in the sub-scanning direction is continued until the recording material is discharged. That is, the image recording device 3 repeats the operation of moving in the sub-scanning direction and then stopping, and when the recording speed is slow, the time during which the sub-scanning is stopped becomes long. In such a case, the user of the apparatus loses the operation noise of the main scanning as a means for confirming the operation of the apparatus after the end of recording, and the sub-scan feed is set even if the sub-scan feed setting is the same as during recording. Seems very sluggish. Also,
Along with this, it was felt that the sub-scanning intermittent feed had been stopped for a long time, and it was impossible to prevent annoyance.

However, in response to the above-mentioned problems, the feeding setting after the recording is completed is divided into the feeding amount and the stop time of the intermittent feeding of the sub-scan during the recording, and the setting is made in small increments so that the operation sound is generated. Since it is possible to check the operation of the device and shorten the time of the stopped state, it is possible to give the device user a great sense of security. A specific numerical example will be described. Assuming that the printing width of one line of main scanning is 8 mm, and the time required to perform printing of one line of main scanning is 4 seconds, the above-described simplest method allows the recording material to be printed in the sub-scanning direction even after the end of recording. To 8
After the paper is fed in, the operation of stopping for 4 seconds is repeated until the paper discharge is completed. On the other hand, according to the present invention, by changing the setting of the feed amount in the sub-scanning direction after the end of recording, both the feed amount and the stop time are changed to ¼ intervals at the time of recording,
The recording material 2 is fed by 2 mm in the sub-scanning direction, and then stopped for 1 second is repeated until the end of paper discharge. In addition, it is possible to visually check the recording material 2 in small increments.

Furthermore, the above specific numerical examples are
Even when the transport conditions are changed in small increments, the time until the recording material 2 is discharged is the same as when the recording material 2 is transported under the recording conditions, but the time during which the recording material 2 stays on the fixing unit 20 is also the same. Since they are the same, the same fixing property can be obtained. Further, conventionally, regardless of whether the fixing device is used or not, even if the recording material is a slow-drying recording material that requires fixing promotion or a quick-drying recording material that does not require fixing promotion, the recording material after the recording is finished. The setting of the feed amount for material conveyance was the same. Therefore, even when a fast-drying recording material is used, the time from the end of recording to passing through the fixing device and being discharged is the same as that of the slow-drying recording material, which is a waste of time for the user of the apparatus. Had to wait. In order to solve this problem, in this embodiment, by changing the setting of the feed amount of the recording material after the recording is completed, the conveyance state according to the drying property of the recording material is changed when the fixing device is used and not used. It is obtained so that efficient recording can be performed.

Next, the control contents of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the fixing device 20
It is determined whether to use (201). As this determination method, presence / absence of the fixing device is detected by a well-known detecting means (not shown) for detecting attachment of the fixing device 20 to the image recording device 3, and if the fixing device 20 is present, a fixing use mode is set. If there is no fixing device 20, there is a method of setting the fixing non-use mode, or a method of determining by turning on / off a fixing device use selection switch (not shown) on the image recording device 3 side.

When the fixing device 20 is not used, the flow on the right side of the flowchart of FIG.
Waits for the feeding instruction of the recording material 2 (202), and upon receiving the feeding instruction, drives the paper feed roller 7 to feed one recording material 2 from the cassette 1 (203), and finishes the feeding. Wait for (20
4). Next, a recording start command for one line is waited (205), and when the command is received, the recording head 10 is driven to execute a printing subroutine (206) for recording. At the end of recording one line, if the line is not the last line to be printed (N in 207), the recording material 2 is fed by one line width (208), the process moves to the next recording, and printing is performed up to the last line. Repeat the process. When it is the last line to be printed (Y of 207), the discharge subroutine 1 is executed (209), and the recording material 2 is surely discharged to the outside of the apparatus. After the completion of discharging (210), the process returns to the standby state waiting for the next feeding command. Here, the discharge subroutine 1
As it does not require fixing, there is no need to perform intermittent feeding, so it is sufficient to discharge all at once.

Next, when the fixing device is used, the flow on the right side of the flowchart of FIG.
Is 1 from the step (202) of waiting for the feeding instruction of the recording material 2
The process is the same as when the fixing device is not used until it is determined whether the line is the last line to be printed at the end of recording the line (207). Of course, when a recording material having poor ink absorbability such as an OHP sheet is used, it may not be possible to absorb the prescribed amount of ink at one time, and it may be possible to perform overprinting by dividing into small amounts twice. It is not necessary that the settings of steps 201 to 210 are the same when the fixing device is used or not used.

When the fixing device is used, when the last line to be printed is recorded (Y of 207), the recording material feeding control 2 is executed (212), and the fixing is repeated until the fixing is completed (213). . This recording material feed control 2 is different from the recording material feed control 1 during recording, and will be described with reference to the above specific numerical value example.
It was changed to the condition of feeding mm and stopping for 1 second. After the recording material 2 is discharged from the fixing device 20 (Y in 213), in order to reliably discharge the recording material 2, the discharging subroutine 2 is executed (214), and the recording material 2 is reliably discharged to the outside of the apparatus. . After the completion of discharging (215), the process returns to the standby state waiting for the next feeding command. Therefore, even when the transport condition is changed in small increments after the recording is completed, the time until the recording material 2 is discharged is the same as when the recording material 2 is transported under the recording condition, but the recording material 2 is fixed by the fixing means 20. Since the staying time is the same, the same fixing property can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the feeding condition is changed from the end of recording to the time when the trailing edge of the recording material is discharged from the fixing device, but it should be the same as the conventional one. Although the conditions are set, the fixing time is such that the staying time of the recording material 2 on the fixing device 20 is not sufficient at the feeding speed of the recording material 2 during recording, and the time involved in the subsequent discharge is also taken into consideration. In some cases, In such a case, according to the present invention, it is possible to set the recording material feeding control 212 so that the feeding speed of the recording material 2 after the recording is completed is slower than that during recording. On the contrary, it is possible to set the time from the end of recording until the trailing edge of the recording material is ejected from the fixing device, and the feeding amount faster than the feeding speed of the recording material 2 during recording. In this case, it is preferable that the fixing device itself be capable of giving sufficient heating for fixing. This specific structure is shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the fixing means C is provided with an auxiliary fixing section D capable of changing the heating amount of the fixing device itself and changing the heating amount as much as possible. The main body control means A of the image recording apparatus gives a recording end signal S and a drive signal P for instructing the operation to the fixing means side control means B, and gives a recording end signal S to the recording medium conveying means E. When the recording end signal S is input, the recording medium conveying means E changes the conveying condition V of the recording material during recording to a faster conveying condition VS, and at the same time, the fixing means operating by the control means B during recording. In addition to C, the auxiliary fixing section D is operated. This auxiliary fixing section D is
Sufficient fixing is given to the increase condition (VS-V) of the transport condition VS. Therefore, the stop time of the recording material can be freely reduced, or continuous conveyance can be made possible. As this auxiliary fixing unit, a unit that increases the fixing action area in the downstream direction, a unit that increases the amount of heat generation, or the like can be adopted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image recording device 3
Although the fixing device 20 which can be attached and detached is used for the same, even if the fixing device 20 is an image recording device integrally formed with the image recording device 3 as shown in FIG. It goes without saying that the conditions can be set. In the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is mainly applied to the inkjet type image recording apparatus has been described, but the present invention uses other types of recording heads such as a wire dot type and a thermal type. The same can be applied to the image recording apparatus and the same effect can be achieved.
Further, in the above-described embodiments, the case of the serial type image recording apparatus that performs recording while moving the recording head 10 in the width direction of the recording material has been described as an example. The same can be applied to a line type image recording apparatus using a line type head that covers all or part of the area, and the same effect can be achieved.

The present invention brings excellent effects particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus of the type which ejects ink by utilizing thermal energy, which is proposed by Canon Inc. among ink jet recording systems. For the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,72.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specifications of Nos. 3,129 and 4,740,796.

This system is applicable to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but in particular,
In the case of the on-demand type, the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path holding the liquid (ink) corresponds to the recorded information and has a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. By applying at least one drive signal that gives a heat energy to the electrothermal converter, the film is boiled on the heat-acting surface of the recording head, and as a result, the liquid (ink It is effective because bubbles can be formed inside. The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. This pulse-shaped drive signal is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,359 and U.S. Pat.
Those as described in 345,262 are suitable. If the conditions described in US Pat. No. 4,313,124 relating to the temperature rise rate of 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 ejection 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. No. 4,558,333 and US Pat. No. 4,459,600, which disclose configurations in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region. Is. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-123670 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 is discharged. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-138461 which discloses a configuration corresponding to each section.

Further, as a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium which can be recorded by the recording device, a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification is used. The present invention can exert the above-mentioned effects more effectively, although it may have a configuration satisfying the length or a configuration as one recording head integrally formed. In addition, by being attached to the main body of the device, it can be electrically connected to the main body of the device and can be supplied with ink from the main body of the replaceable chip type recording head, or integrally provided on the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when the cartridge type recording head described above is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means for the recording head, preliminary auxiliary means, etc., which are provided as a configuration of the recording apparatus of the present invention, because the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. . Specific examples thereof include capping means, cleaning means, pressurization or suction means, an electrothermal converter or a heating element other than this, a preheating means for the recording head, and a recording head for the recording head. It is also effective to perform a preliminary ejection mode in which another ejection is performed for stable recording. Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but the recording head may be integrally configured or a plurality of combinations may be used. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one full color.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or below, and is softened or liquid at room temperature, or the ink itself is 30 in the above ink jet. Generally, the temperature is controlled within the range of ℃ to 70 ℃ to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within the stable ejection range. Good. In addition, it is possible to prevent the temperature rise due to thermal energy from being positively used as energy for changing the state of the ink from a solid state to a liquid state, or
Whether or not ink that solidifies in a standing state is used for the purpose of preventing evaporation of the ink, and in any case, the ink is liquefied by being applied according to a recording signal of thermal energy and ejected as an ink liquid or reaches a recording medium. The use of inks that have the property of only liquefying by thermal energy, such as those that have already begun to solidify at this point, is also applicable to the present invention. In such a case, the ink is disclosed in JP-A-54-56.
No. 847 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-71260, a mode in which it faces the electrothermal converter in the state of being held as a liquid or a solid in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet. May be In the present invention, the most effective ones for the above inks are
The film boiling method described above is executed.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, while at least a part of the recording medium passes through the recording area, another part of the recording medium is fixed at a position where it passes through the fixing promotion area. Means for providing recording medium on the recording medium intermittently for recording on the recording medium, and for fixing the recording medium on the recording medium in the recording region after completion of recording on the recording medium. By having a control unit that makes the second recording medium fixing and conveying condition until the image forming area of the recording medium passes, there is no inconvenience and rationalization of the fixing and conveying of the recording material after the recording is completed. For example, when the recording medium is stopped, it is easy for the operator to mistakenly think that the entire device is in a non-operation state, the device is malfunctioning or malfunctions, and the operator feels a lot of anxiety or the sound disappears due to the device stopping. Slow movement is strong Is coming from that would, it is possible to solve the problem, such as giving a psychological adverse effects, such as a kind of irritation feeling.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus equipped with a fixing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing a fixing device and a mounting portion of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the fixing device of FIG.

4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a recording material loading cassette is mounted on the image recording apparatus of FIG.

5 is a plan view showing a part of a mounting portion of the recording material loading cassette of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an image recording apparatus in which a fixing device is integrated according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Material Loading Cassette 2 Recording Material 3 Image Recording Device 3a Locking Part 3b Hooking Part 4 Mounting Part 7 Paper Feeding Roller 9 Sub-scanning Roller Pair 9a Drive Gear 10 Recording Head 11 Platen 12 Paper Ejection Roller Pair 15 Manual Feeding Conveyance Roller pair 20 Fixing device 20a Abutting part 20b Detachment preventing part 20c Coupling means 20f Abutting part 21 Paper discharging roller (fixing device) 23 Paper discharging roller (fixing device) 26 Fixing means (heater plate) 28 Drive gear (fixing device) 29 relay gear train 100 manual sheet conveyance guide 101 recording material guide D auxiliary fixing unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A recording means for recording an image on a recording medium in a recording area, a conveying means for intermittently conveying the recording medium, and a recording medium at a position downstream of the recording area in the conveying direction of the conveying means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a fixing unit for accelerating fixing of the image recorded on the recording medium; Part of the recording medium is provided at a position that passes through the fixing promotion area, and the first recording medium fixing and conveying condition for intermittently recording on the recording medium in the recording area and the recording medium in the recording area. After the recording is completed, at least until the image forming area of the recording medium passes through the fixing unit.
An image recording apparatus, comprising: a control unit that makes a recording medium fixing and conveying condition different. 2. The control means records the total amount of heat received by the fixing means on a unit area of the recording medium conveyed under the first recording medium fixing and conveying condition in the recording area on the recording medium. To the unit area of the recording medium for which the recording is completed, the intermittent feeding condition is set so that the second recording medium fixing and conveying condition increases the conveying speed of the recording medium more than the first recording medium fixing and conveying condition. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising switching means for changing. 3. The control means records the total amount of heat received by the fixing means on a unit area of the recording medium transported under the first recording medium fixing and transporting condition on the recording medium in the recording area. The stop time of the recording medium is set to the first area so that
3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that changes the intermittent feeding condition so that the second recording medium fixing and conveying condition is reduced as compared with the recording medium fixing and conveying condition. apparatus. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit is removable from the image recording apparatus. 5. The fixing means improves the heating condition of the second recording medium transporting condition more than the heating condition of the first recording medium fixing and transporting condition. Image recording device. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing conveyance condition of the first recording medium is changed depending on whether the fixing unit is operated or not. Image recording device. 7. The ink jet recording means for causing the recording means to cause film boiling in the ink by heat generated by the electrothermal converter to eject the ink from the ejection port. Image recording device.