JPH10235959A - Recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the additional value of a recording medium from being degraded due to a margin by spacing the marginal width being left at the circumferential fringe part of an image recording region, at the time of forming an image on a sheet-like recording medium, by a specified distance from the side against which the margin faces when it is separated at a part of an easily fracturable means. SOLUTION: The end side 1a of a recording medium 1 is set forward and the distance W1 from an easily fracturable means 2 to the fringe part of an image on the side provided with the means 2 is set to match the distance W2 of a non-image recording region (margin) W2 on the front side in the carrying direction A. The recording medium 1 is carried into an apparatus and the upper/ lower fringes and the rear fringe thereof are held appropriately at specified positions before an image recording region 5 is formed at a specified position of a using part 3. In this regard, widths W3, W4 represent marginal parts of same width and the width W0 on the cut-off part 4 side represents a relatively large margin as compared with the width W2 on the front side. When the cut-off part 4 is cut off separately from the easily fracturable means 2, the width W1 of the rear side margin 6 is equalized to the front side width W2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording method using a recording medium useful for various recording methods, and more particularly, to a method for holding a recording medium and achieving high paper feed accuracy during image formation.
Margins that enable (feeding accuracy to enable high-definition recording)
The present invention relates to an image recording method suitable for use in an image recording apparatus requiring a (non-image recording area).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various devices and apparatuses have been developed and put into practical use as means for recording characters and images (hereinafter, characters and images may be simply referred to as "images"). Among them, an image formation using an ink-jet type image recording apparatus is one of the most remarkable technological advances in recent years. Image recording by the inkjet method has been considered to be inferior to the field of photographic printing due to the quality of printed images (printing), but in recent years, as a result of improvements in image recording devices and recording media, extremely High-quality images are being obtained.

In the image recording by the ink jet system, the following features (1) to (5) inherent in the ink jet system have been noticed due to the recent improvement in image quality.
And it has been utilized. (1) Direct recording using ink does not require complicated processing for visualization. (2) Since ink is recorded by flying, it is basically non-contact,
This is a non-impact recording method. (3) Since the ink is applied only to the necessary parts, the use efficiency of the ink is high, and a natural image can be obtained even on plain paper. (4) The running cost of ink and paper is extremely low and economical. (5) It is possible to superimpose ink droplets using color ink, and it is possible to relatively easily perform high-quality color printing.

[0004] As described above, in addition to the features (1) to (5) being noticed and utilized, there is a wide variety of applications from the immediacy of image formation (printing) to business use and home use. Applications are becoming possible, and further technological innovation is expected in the future.

[0005] Under such circumstances, image formation in an ink jet type image recording apparatus is performed, for example, by transporting various types of cards such as postcards, greeting cards, Christmas cards and the like and recording media of a predetermined size at a predetermined speed. While forming. That is, the image formation in this type of apparatus is performed in such a manner that the recording medium is positioned on the transport roller facing the print head so as to be pressed down via a suitable fixing means, and in this state, the recording medium is intermittently moved in a predetermined manner. The printing is performed by scanning the print head in the horizontal direction while the printing is stopped.

[0006]

In forming an image on a recording medium by the above-described image recording apparatus, it is necessary to convey the recording medium at a high feed precision and print it in order to form a high definition and high resolution image. In addition, due to the increase in the size of the print head due to the multi-nozzle (multi-nozzle) for realizing high-definition, high-resolution image formation, it is not possible to form an image with an image size that is the full size of a recording medium. That is, the ink-jet type image recording apparatus which is widely used at present has some differences depending on the form of the fixing means of the image recording apparatus, but the supply tip which is the peripheral portion of the recording medium loaded in the paper feed tray of the image recording apparatus. A non-image recording area (margin) is generated at the portion, the side end, and the rear end.
These non-image recording areas are areas necessary for securely supporting and transporting the recording medium inside the image recording apparatus, and are areas which are unavoidable at present.

Further, in most image recording apparatuses,
The widths of the non-image recording areas at the leading end and the trailing end cannot be the same. The non-image recording area is
In an image recording apparatus having a general structure that is currently popular, the width of the unavoidable non-image recording area is set to, for example, about 10 to 15 mm at the rear end.

The fact that the width of the non-image recording area varies depending on the position of the peripheral portion of the recording medium or is unnaturally large is not preferable in appearance as a recording medium on which an image is formed. In particular, as described above, a printed matter by an ink jet method, which has become a high-quality image almost indistinguishable from a photograph, has become a serious problem because the added value of the printed matter is reduced. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when forming an image on a recording medium, a non-image recording area (margin) required for image formation increases the added value of the recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording method that does not cause a decrease.

[0010]

According to the recording method of the present invention, an image is recorded on a sheet-shaped recording medium having easy-breaking means and configured to be separable into two or more sheets. When the width of the non-image recording area left at the peripheral portion of the area is separated at the portion of the easy rupture means, recording is performed at a predetermined distance on at least the opposite side of the non-image recording area. Thus, the above object can be achieved.

According to the present invention, there is provided the above-mentioned recording method, wherein:-recording is performed so that the widths of all non-image recording areas formed on the peripheral portion are substantially the same (claim 2); Recording an image so that the easy-to-break means is positioned on the rear side in the transport direction of the apparatus (claim 3); performing the image formation by an inkjet recording method (claim 4); The image formation is performed by a color inkjet recording method (claim 5).

According to the recording method of the present invention, when an image is formed on a sheet-shaped recording medium having easy-to-break means that can be easily separated into two or more in advance, the image is formed on the peripheral portion of the recording medium. The width of the remaining non-image recording area, when separated at the portion of the easy-to-break means, so as to be equal on at least the opposite side of the non-image recording area (at a certain distance from the easy-to-break means) ) By recording, as a recording medium on which an image is formed, the width of the non-image recording area is reduced, and the image recording area and the non-image recording area are balanced.

As described above, by setting the positional relationship between the easy breaking means, the edge of the image recording area, and the edge of the recording medium to a specific value as described above, unnecessary portions are cut off by the easy breaking means. Thus, it is possible to provide a recording medium in which the image recording area and the non-image recording image area are balanced without requiring any special means and operation.

For example, when the image recording apparatus is used, the easy-breaking means is located on the rear side in the conveying direction (rear side in the inserting direction) with respect to the conveying direction of the recording medium, and the provision of the easy-breaking means is provided. Distance from the edge of the image on the set side (rear side) to the easy-to-break means (width of the non-image recording area) and the width of the non-image recording area on the front side in the transport direction (the edge of the image and the recording medium). The image recording apparatus can be set so that the distance between the image recording apparatus and the image recording apparatus coincides with the distance from the edge. Thereby, after image formation,
By separating the recording medium by the easy breaking means,
The width of the non-image recording area can be easily reduced to achieve a balanced state as the entire recording medium.

In addition, when an image recording apparatus for ink jet recording, particularly color ink jet recording, is used for image formation, the image formation is of high definition and high resolution. Printing at the same time, and the multi-nozzle (multi-nozzle) printer head is large, so margins at the border
(Non-image recording area) is set relatively large. But,
According to the recording method of the present invention, after image formation,
The recording medium can be easily separated by the easy breaking means, and the width of the non-image recording area can be extremely easily reduced, so that the entire recording medium can be in a balanced state.

Further, the width of the non-image recording area (the width after separating unnecessary cut portions) reduced by the breakage of the easy-to-break means and the width of other non-image recording areas are substantially constant. By doing so, the appearance quality of the recording medium on which the image is formed can be further improved.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a recording medium for an image recording apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a "recording medium") used in a recording method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where an image is formed on the recording medium shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state where a cut-out portion of the recording medium shown in FIG. 2 is separated. It is. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the recording medium shown in FIG. 1 is loaded in the image recording apparatus.

The first embodiment of the present invention is an example of a recording medium such as a postcard or a postcard-size card. As shown in FIG. On one side of the end side (hereinafter referred to as “end side 1b”), an easy breaking means 2 is provided along the end side 1b. The easy-to-break means 2 is provided so that the recording medium 1 can be easily separated into a used portion 3 on the image forming side and a cut portion 4 for cutting without forming an image. For example, it can be formed as a continuous linear shape (a continuous cut not penetrating in the thickness direction of the recording medium) or a dotted linear cut (perforation).

The recording method according to the present invention is not limited to the ink jet recording method, and can be applied to thermal transfer, sublimation type thermal transfer, etc., but is preferably applied to an ink jet recording method, and more preferably to a color ink jet recording method. . When the image recording apparatus 40 is an inkjet apparatus, the recording medium 1 may be, for example, high quality paper, bond paper, PPC paper, an envelope, a label, a special coated paper on which a special ink receiving layer is formed, an OHP film, a glossy paper ( Film) can be used. Also, the recording medium 1
The size of the (paper) is not particularly limited, and any desired size from a business card size to an A0 (A0) size can be used.

A method of recording an image on the recording medium 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to an image recording device 40 shown in FIG. First, a recording medium 1 having an easy-breaking means 2 at one end side is provided on a recording medium setting paper feed tray 42 which protrudes laterally from an apparatus main body 41 of an image recording apparatus 40.
(See FIG. 1). At this time, the recording medium 1 is set with the side of the edge 1a facing forward (the edge 1b on which the easy-to-break means 2 is formed is oriented backward).

The image forming position in the image recording device 40 is determined by the distance from the edge of the image on the side (rear side) where the easy-breaking means 2 is provided to the easy-breaking means (the non-image recording area in FIG. 2). (Width W1) and the width W2 (distance between the edge of the image and the edge of the recording medium) of the non-image recording area on the front side in the transport direction (the direction indicated by arrow A) are set to match. .

Thereafter, by operating the image recording apparatus 40, the recording medium 1 is carried into the apparatus, and is moved to a predetermined position.
For example, the upper and lower edges and the rear edge along the center line C in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, an image recording area 5 is formed at a predetermined position of the used portion 3 (the portion on the left side of the easy breaking means 2 in FIG. 2). At this time, the widths W3 (lower side in the figure) and W4 (upper side in the figure) of the non-image recording area 6 around the image recording area 5 are set as margins having the same width. Compared to the width W2 (middle left side), the width W0 on the cutout portion 4 side is a relatively large blank portion.

However, as shown in FIG. 3, the cut portion 4 is separated from the easy-to-break means 2 and cut off, so that the width W of the non-image recording area 6 on the recording medium 1 on the rear side in the transport direction is reduced.
1 can be the same as the width W2 on the front side in the transport direction.

(Second Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the width of the non-image recording area 6 is the same in the vertical and horizontal widths in FIG. 2, but the recording method according to the present invention. Is not limited to such a form. That is, in the recording medium 1 shown in FIG. 2, the widths W2 of the non-image recording area 6 around the image recording area 5 (the front side in the conveying direction and the left side in the figure), W3 (the lower side in the figure), and W4 (the lower side in the figure) The width W1 (right side in the figure) after being separated by the easy breaking means 2 can be configured as a margin portion of substantially the same size. in this case,
The added value as a recording medium is even higher than in the first embodiment.

(Third Embodiment) In both of the above embodiments, the recording medium 1 in which the easy breaking means 2 is provided at one position along the short side of the recording medium has been described, but the recording method according to the present invention is described. The recording medium adapted to the above may be in the form shown in FIG. The recording medium 1A shown in FIG. 5 has a configuration in which the easy breaking means 2 is formed on one side along the long side. Therefore, after the image is formed in the image forming area 5 of the used portion 3 (the portion below the easy-to-break means 2 in FIG. 5), the cut-out portion 4 is separated from the easy-to-break means 2 so that the above-described embodiment is achieved. Similarly to the above, the width (W5, W6) of the non-image recording area 6 can be reduced very easily.
It is possible to provide a recording medium balanced in comparison between the image recording area 5 and the image recording area 5.

Fourth Embodiment In each of the above embodiments, the case where one image recording area 5 is provided has been described. However, in the recording method according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. It can be applied to multiple cases. In the recording medium 1B shown in FIG. 6, the easy-to-break means 2 is formed at the center along the long side, and is further shifted to one side of the short side along the short side (the used part 3 and the cut-away part). 4 and a position where the used portion 3 is divided into four equal parts. When a plurality of image recording areas are formed as shown in FIG. 6, a small image that can be adapted to, for example, a business card size can be formed.

In the recording medium 1B, the used part 3
(A part below the easy breaking means 2 in FIG. 6) is divided into a plurality (four in this case) by the easy breaking means 2,
An image can be formed for each section. Then, in the case of the mode shown in FIG.
Are formed at specific distances (W7 and W8) from the easy breaking means 2. Therefore, after the image is formed, the cut portion 4 is cut off from the easy breaking means 2.
And four recording media having the same margin width can be obtained. It is to be noted that the distance between the easy breaking means 2 and the image recording area 5 can be all constant (W7 and W8 are the same).

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Although the size of one image recording area 5 is the same, the recording method according to the present invention is not limited to such a form, and the size of each image recording area may be different. That is, as long as the distance between each image recording area and the easy breaking means surrounding the image recording area is maintained at the specified distance according to the present invention, each section of the recording medium 1B as shown in FIG. The size of the image recording area formed in the section of the used portion which can be separated by the easy breaking means may not be uniform.

[0029]

As described in detail above, the present invention relates to a method for forming an image on a sheet-shaped recording medium having two or more easily rupturable means in advance. When the width of the non-image recording region remaining in the portion is separated at the portion of the easy-to-break means, recording is performed at a certain distance from the easy-to-break means on at least the opposite side of the non-image recording region.

As described above, according to the present invention, by setting the positional relationship between the breakable means, the edge of the image recording area, and the edge of the recording medium to a specific value as described above, unnecessary portions can be eliminated. A high-quality recording medium in which the width of the non-image recording area can be determined without the need for special means or operation simply by cutting by the easy-to-break means, and the image recording area and the non-image recording image area are balanced. Can be provided very easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a recording medium for describing a recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view in a state where an image is formed on the recording medium shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state where a cut portion of the recording medium shown in FIG. 2 is separated.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the recording medium shown in FIG. 1 is loaded in the image recording apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the recording medium used in the recording method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a fourth embodiment of the recording medium used in the recording method according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A, 1B Recording medium 2 Easy breaking means 3 Used part 4 Cut part 5 Image recording area 6 Non-image recording area 40 Image recording device 41 Device main body part 42 Feed tray

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A non-image recording area which is left at a peripheral portion of an image recording area when an image is formed on a sheet-shaped recording medium having easy-breaking means and configured to be separable into two or more. A recording method in which, when the width is separated at the portion of the easy-to-break means, at least on a side opposite to the non-image recording area at a certain distance from the easy-to-break means. 2. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed such that the widths of all the non-image recording areas formed in the peripheral portion are substantially the same. 3. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the recording of the image is performed such that the easy breaking means is located on the rear side of the image recording apparatus in the transport direction. 4. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the image formation is performed by an inkjet recording method. 5. The recording method according to claim 1, wherein the image formation is performed by a color inkjet recording method.