JPH10296966A - Ink jet image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet image forming apparatus for accelerating continuous printing by preventing ink dirt or sagging of a recording medium such as a recording sheet continuously discharged, improving a recording quality, and reducing a vertical size of a printer housing space. SOLUTION: An ink jet printer 10 sequentially superposes and places recording sheets 16 discharged from a discharge port 11a, and has a discharging mechanism for discharging the sheets 16 from the port 11a substantially in a horizontal direction, and a pair of rotary members 12A, 12B extended substantially parallel ti a discharging direction A, disposed oppositely to one another and rotating synchronously in a reverse direction. The members 12A, 12B have support bars 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d for cooperatively supporting edges of the sheet 16 from below. And, the bars 14a to 14d drop the sheet 16 according to rotation of the members 12A, 12B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet type image forming apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine, and more particularly, to an ink jet type image forming apparatus in which discharged recording media are sequentially stacked.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an ink jet printer of a type in which recording paper printed and discharged is sequentially stacked on a discharge stacker. In an ink jet printer of this type, since the subsequent recording paper overlaps while rubbing the printing (printing) surface of the recording paper discharged earlier, if the ink on the previous recording paper is not dried, the printing of both recording papers is performed. There is a problem that the surface and the back surface are stained with ink.

[0003] An ink jet printer for solving the above problem is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-169616. FIG. 22 is a side sectional view showing a main part of the ink jet printer described in the publication. The ink jet printer includes paper feed rollers 37, 3 opposed to each other.
8, a platen 39 located on the back side of the recording paper 16 which is transported upward from below in the same figure, a print head 36 facing the platen 39, and a discharge roller located above the paper feed rollers 37, 38 32 and 33, and a pocket 34 for storing the recording paper 16 after printing. The discharge roller 33 is located on the pocket 34 side of the discharge roller 32 and has a plurality of irregularities on the surface. The pocket 34 is
The bottom portion is located below the discharge rollers 32, 33, and the receiving plate 35 leans the stored recording paper 16 obliquely.
Is provided.

In the ink jet printer described in the above publication, the recording paper 16 is first printed by a print head 36 and passes through a nip portion between discharge rollers 32 and 33. Next, the rear end side is sent to the pocket 34 side due to irregularities on the surface of the paper discharge roller 33, and is discharged into the pocket 34. The recording paper 16 contacts the receiving plate 35 with the rear end of the recording paper 16 abutting against the bottom of the pocket 34. Subsequent recording paper 16
Until the printing is completed and the recording paper 16 is discharged into the pocket 34, the recording paper 16 contacts only the upper end of the printing surface of the recording paper 16. In addition, the upper end of the recording paper 16 is a portion that has been printed prior to another printing portion, and thus has already been dried. As described above, since the time required for printing on the subsequent recording paper 16 is used for drying the printing surface of the preceding recording paper 16, the possibility that the recording paper to be overlaid is stained with ink is eliminated.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional ink jet printer, a film or a sheet for an overhead project (OHP), which does not penetrate the ink and requires much time for drying, is used as recording paper. Or, if the printing speed is even faster,
The printing time for one succeeding recording sheet alone is not sufficient as the drying time for the ink on the preceding recording sheet. Further, since the recording paper after printing is oriented in the vertical direction, there is a problem that undried ink drips when printing graphic data in which ink adheres to the entire surface of the paper. Further, the discharge roller 32,
After the recording paper 12 is transported above the
Therefore, a high accommodating space is required in a place where the printer is installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet type image forming apparatus which improves recording quality by preventing ink stains and dripping of a recording medium such as recording paper continuously discharged. It is another object of the present invention to reduce the vertical dimension of the accommodation space of the printer and to speed up continuous printing (printing) in the image forming apparatus.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet type image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an ink jet type image forming apparatus of a type in which sheet-like recording media discharged from a discharge port are sequentially stacked and placed. In the image forming apparatus, a discharge mechanism that discharges the recording medium in a substantially horizontal direction from a discharge port,
A pair of rotating members each extending substantially parallel to the discharge direction, arranged opposite to each other, and rotating in synchronization with each other in opposite directions, wherein the pair of rotating members cooperate with each other, respectively. And a support for supporting the edge of the recording medium from below, wherein the support drops the recording medium in accordance with the rotation of the rotating member.

In the ink jet type image forming apparatus of the present invention, when each rotating member rotates synchronously in the opposite direction, the corresponding supporting portions cooperate to cooperate with the edge of the recording medium discharged in a substantially horizontal direction. Is temporarily supported from below, and then the supported recording medium is released (dropped) as the rotating member rotates. As described above, each printed recording medium can be handled in a substantially horizontal state, so that ink dripping can be prevented and the vertical dimension of the storage space of the printer can be reduced. Also,
Since it is possible to stack the succeeding recording mediums after the ink of the recording medium discharged first is dried, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the recording mediums continuously discharged mutually cause ink stains. For example, if a plurality of support portions are provided on both rotating members, a subsequent pair of support portions may support the recording medium once and then release the recording medium, and then the other pair of support portions may be used. It becomes possible to support the recording medium. In this case, since the printing time for a plurality of subsequent printing media can be used for the ink drying time of the printing medium, it is possible to cope with an increase in the speed of continuous printing.

Here, it is preferable that the supporting portion has a rod shape having a length at least from a front end to a rear end in a recording medium discharging direction. In this case, the recording medium can be stably supported by the corresponding pair of support portions.

[0010] Further, it is preferable that a plurality of support portions are provided at equal angular intervals on a concentric circle of the rotation axis of the rotation member.
In this case, during a period from the time when the corresponding pair of support portions once support the recording medium to the time when the recording medium is released, the other pair of support portions can support the subsequent recording medium, so that printing of a plurality of subsequent recording media can be performed. The time can be allocated to the ink drying time of the recording medium.

[0011] Preferably, the supporting portions are arranged at intervals of about 90 ° about the rotation axis of the rotating member. In this case, each rotating member rotates intermittently by about 90 °, and at a position where the support receives the recording medium from the discharge port, a line connecting each support and the rotation axis is substantially horizontal. Preferably, it forms approximately 45 °. Thus, at the time when the foremost pair of support portions releases the recording medium, the next pair of support portions continues to support the subsequent recording medium, and the position where the next pair of support portions can support the recording medium. Situations become possible. Therefore,
The printing time for the subsequent two recording media can be used for the ink drying time of the recording medium.

Alternatively, each of the rotating members may be substantially 9
It is also preferable that at a position where the support section intermittently rotates by 0 ° and the support section receives the recording medium from the discharge port, a line segment connecting each support section and the rotation axis forms about 90 ° with respect to a substantially horizontal direction. It is an aspect. In this case, when the foremost pair of support portions releases the recording medium, the following two sets of support portions continue to support the subsequent recording medium, respectively, and the next pair of support portions can support the recording medium. A position situation becomes possible. Therefore, the printing time for the subsequent three recording media can be used for the ink drying time of the recording medium.

Preferably, the supporting portions are arranged at intervals of about 120 ° about the rotation axis of the rotating member, and each rotating member rotates intermittently by about 120 °. In this case, at the time when the foremost pair of support portions releases the recording medium, the next pair of support portions continues to support the subsequent recording medium, and a position where the next pair of support portions can support the recording medium. Situations become possible. Therefore, the printing time for two subsequent recording media can be used for the ink drying time of the recording medium.

[0014] Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an adjusting means for adjusting the interval between the pair of rotating members. in this case,
The distance between the corresponding support members can be adjusted according to the size of the recording medium to be used.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises control means for controlling the printing process, wherein the control means determines a different ink drying time depending on the type of the printing medium used and the printing data amount, and sets the printing medium released earlier. After the ink drying time elapses, the rotation of the pair of rotating members is controlled so that the next recording medium is dropped. In this case, since the subsequent recording medium is not overlapped while the ink of the previous recording medium is not dried, there is no problem that both recording mediums are stained with ink.

Here, as a conventional ink jet printer, there is one described in JP-A-1-145153. In the inkjet printer described in the publication,
A pair of rail members extending parallel to the recording medium discharge direction and facing each other are provided on the discharge tray. Each of the rail members pivots in a direction in which the leading ends approach each other and moves to the sheet receiving position, and moves in a direction in which the distal ends move away from each other and moves to the sheet releasing position. This ink jet printer requires a complicated mechanism for alternately rotating each rail member in the forward direction and the reverse direction. Further, only the printing time for one succeeding recording medium is used for the ink drying time of the recording medium.

In the ink jet type image forming apparatus of the present invention, continuously ejected recording media can be overlapped at appropriate time intervals only by rotating each rotating member in one direction. The drive mechanism can be simplified. Further, by increasing the number of the support portions, it is possible to secure a time for drying the ink on the recording medium ejected earlier, so that it is possible to cope with an increase in the speed of continuous printing.

[0018]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an inkjet printer (inkjet image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The inkjet printer 10 includes a control unit 24 including a microcomputer and the like, a printing mechanism unit 11 and a sheet discharge processing unit 13 that operate according to instructions from the control unit 24. The printing mechanism 11 has a function of printing on a recording paper (sheet-shaped recording medium) 16 based on printing data from a higher-level device such as a personal computer, and a discharge for discharging the recording paper 16 from the discharge port 11a in a substantially horizontal direction. It has a function as a mechanism. Also, the paper discharge processing unit 13
Processes the recording paper 16 discharged from the discharge port 11a while being printed by the printing mechanism unit 11.

The paper discharge processing section 13 includes a box-shaped frame 13a fixed to the recording paper discharge side of the printing mechanism section 11, and a pair of rotating members 12A, 12A disposed in the box-shaped frame 13a.
B, and a paper discharge stacker 13b on which the recording paper 16 discharged from the discharge port 11a is sequentially stacked. The rotating members 12A and 12B each extend substantially parallel to the discharge direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1, are arranged to face each other, and rotate synchronously in opposite directions to each other. The rotating members 12A and 12B cooperate with each other to support the edge of the recording paper 16 from below, and support bars (supporting portions) having a length from the front end to the rear end in the discharge direction A of the recording paper 16. )
14a, 14b, 14c and 14d.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the paper discharge processing unit 13 as viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 to 11 show how each support bar supports the recording paper during the printing process. It is a front view shown in a different state. Each of the support bars 14a to 14d extends in parallel with the discharge direction A, and has both ends fixed to each end of a pair of stays 15 having a cross shape, and is disposed at approximately 90 ° intervals on a concentric circle of the rotating shaft 20. Has been established. Rotating shaft 20
Supports the rotating members 12A, 12B only at both ends thereof,
Since it does not exist between both stays 15, it does not hinder the dropping operation of the recording paper 16. Rotating members 12A, 12B
Are intermittently rotated by approximately 90 ° in mutually opposite directions about the rotation shaft 20 in response to rotation of a rotation mechanism including a known mechanism using a motor, a gear mechanism, and the like. The rotating member 12A rotates clockwise in FIG. 2, and the rotating member 12B rotates counterclockwise in FIG.

In the initial position where any of the support bars 14a to 14d reaches the recording paper receiving position, each of the support bars 14a to 14d
angle theta ₁ is approximately 45 ° with respect to a substantially horizontal direction H of the line segment connecting the a~14d with the rotary shaft 20. Both support bars 14
In a to 14d, according to the rotation of each of the rotating members 12A and 12B, both corresponding members approach each other and the recording paper 1
6 is smaller than the width a of the recording paper (FIG. 3)
Then, the recording paper 16 moves to a recording paper release position (FIG. 8) where the recording paper 16 is released (dropped) away from each other.

In the ink jet printer 10, the recording paper 16 is discharged from the discharge port 11a with the printing screen facing upward. When the recording paper 16a is discharged by the rotating members 12A and 12B, for example, with both support bars 14a positioned at the recording paper receiving position (FIG. 3), the recording paper 16a
Is slid while the left and right sides are supported by the pair of support bars 14a from below, and is mounted on the pair of support bars 14a.

When the recording paper 16a is completely discharged from the discharge port 11a and is placed on the support bar 14a, a rotation command is sent from the control means 24. Rotating member 12A,
12B is rotated by approximately 90 ° in the opposite direction in accordance with the rotation command (FIGS. 4 and 5).
4b is moved to the recording paper receiving position, and the next recording paper 16 is moved.
It is in a state of waiting for the discharge of b. In this state, the discharge port 11a
When the recording paper 16b is ejected from the recording paper 16b, the recording paper 16b slides while being supported on the left and right sides by the pair of support bars 14b from below, and is placed on the pair of support bars 14b (FIG. 6). . In this state, the foremost recording paper 16a moves downward together with the support bar 14a, and is supported together with the upper recording paper 16b.

When the recording paper 16b is completely discharged from the discharge port 11a and is placed on the support bar 14b, the rotating members 12A and 12B rotate by 90 ° in opposite directions, respectively (FIGS. 7 and 8). This time, both support bars 14c are moved to the recording paper receiving position, and a state of waiting for discharge of the next recording paper 16c is set. During this rotation, the two support bars 14a are separated from each other by the width a of the frontmost recording paper 16a or more, so that the recording paper 16a is released and dropped and placed on the discharge stacker 13b.

When the next recording paper 16c is discharged from the discharge port 11a, the recording paper 16c slides while being supported on the left and right sides by the pair of support bars 14c from below, and slides on the pair of support bars 14c. It is placed (FIG. 9). Recording paper 16c
Is completely discharged from the discharge port 11a and is placed on the support bar 14c, the rotating members 12A and 12B rotate by 90 ° in opposite directions, respectively (FIGS. 10 and 11), and this time the support bar 14d Is moved to the recording paper receiving position, and a state of waiting for the discharge of the next recording paper 16d is set.

At the time of the rotation, both support bars 14b are separated from each other by more than the width of the recording paper 16b.
6b is released and falls, and is placed on the recording paper 16a. At this time, since the printing time for two subsequent recording papers 16b and 16c has elapsed since the recording paper 16a was discharged, the ink on the printing screen of the recording paper 16a has been sufficiently dried. Therefore, even if the recording paper 16b overlaps with the recording paper 16a, there is no problem that the recording papers 16a and 16b are stained with ink.

In the above-described paper discharging process, the entire process is performed by the recording paper 16.
Is carried out substantially horizontally, so that the vertical dimension of the accommodation space of the ink jet printer 10 can be reduced, and even when printing graphic data such that ink adheres to the entire printing screen, it is possible to use Can be prevented.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the ink jet printer according to this embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a front view showing the paper discharge mechanism in a state viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. In the figure, the same elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the support bars 14a to 14d
In a state where one is in a receiving paper position of the point of the angle theta ₂ with respect to a substantially horizontal direction H of a line connecting the rotational shaft 20 and the support bar 14a~14d is substantially 90 °, the first embodiment And different. Also in the present embodiment, the rotating member 1
Each of 2A and 12B intermittently rotates by approximately 90 ° in the opposite direction in response to the rotation of the rotation mechanism. The rotating member 12A rotates clockwise in FIG. 13, and the rotating member 12B rotates counterclockwise in FIG. The other points are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

FIG. 14 shows the rotating members 12A, 12A of FIG.
FIG. 6B is a front view showing a state in which B rotates and processes discharged recording papers 16a to 16d. In the present embodiment,
When the rotating members 12A and 12B rotate in opposite directions by about 90 ° each other, the pair of support bars 14a move to the recording paper 16a.
Is released, the next two sets of support bars 14b and 14
c continues to support the two recording papers 16b and 16c, respectively.
Further, a situation can be created in which the next pair of support bars 14d waits for the discharge of the recording paper 14d at the recording paper receiving position. As described above, since a maximum of three recording sheets can be supported, the printing time for the subsequent three recording sheets can be used for the ink drying time of the recording sheet 16a.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the ink jet printer in the present embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a front view showing the paper discharge mechanism in a state viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. In the figure, the same elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the present embodiment, each rotating member 12A, 1
2B has three support bars 14a, 14b, 14c extending parallel to the discharge direction A, respectively. Support bar 1
4a to 14c are respectively fixed at both ends to a pair of stays 25 having a shape radiating in three directions from the rotation shaft 20,
The rotating shafts 20 are arranged on concentric circles at intervals of about 120 °. The rotating shaft 20 supports the rotating members 12A and 12B only at both ends thereof, and does not exist between the both stays 25, so that the dropping operation of the recording paper 16 is not hindered. In response to the rotation of the rotation mechanism, the rotation member 12A intermittently rotates clockwise and the rotation member 12B counterclockwise approximately 120 °. In this embodiment, when any of the support bars 14a to 14c is at the recording paper receiving position, each support bar 1
A substantially horizontal direction H of a line connecting the rotary shaft 20 to the rotary shaft 20;
Angle theta ₃ becomes approximately 60 ° with respect. The other points are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, the rotating members 12A, 12A
When B rotates by about 120 ° in the opposite direction to each other, the next pair of support bars 14b continue to support the recording paper 16b when the pair of support bars 14a release the front recording paper 16a, and A situation can be created in which the next pair of support bars 14c waits for the recording paper 14c to be discharged at the recording paper receiving position. As described above, the inkjet printer 10 according to the present embodiment is
In the embodiment, the two recording papers 16 can be supported at the maximum by the rotating members 12A and 12B having a smaller number of support bars than in the first embodiment. Thus, the printing time for two subsequent recording sheets can be used for the ink drying time of the recording sheet 16a.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the ink jet printer according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 18 is a front view showing the paper discharge mechanism in a state viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. In the figure, the same elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment
0 is different from the first embodiment in that a mechanism for adjusting the interval between the rotating members 12A and 12B is provided, but other configurations and elements are the same. As shown in FIG. 17, in the inkjet printer 10, a guide groove 26 is formed in the width direction of the recording paper on the rotating member 12A side of a housing 11b provided in the printing mechanism unit 11. In the guide groove 26, an adjustment lever (adjustment means) 27 that is rotated in the recording paper width direction to adjust the position of the rotary member 12A with respect to the rotary member 12B is provided. Also, at the front and rear of the box frame 13a,
Guide grooves 19 for guiding the rotating shaft 20 of the rotating member 12A in the width direction of the recording paper are formed, and the rear end of the rotating shaft 20 is
It is connected to an adjustment lever 27 inside 1b. FIG.
In the figure, the rear guide groove is not shown.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the adjusting lever 2
By rotating the rotary member 7, the position of the rotary member 12A with respect to the rotary member 12B can be adjusted to match the width of the recording paper actually used. Here, the rotating member 12
The A side can be fixed and the rotating member 12B side can be configured to be movable, or the rotating members 12A and 12B can both be configured to be movable. Further, each adjustment position by the adjustment lever 27 is displayed around the guide groove 26 for each size of the recording paper, and the adjustment lever 2 is operated by the click stop mechanism.
7 can be supported at each adjustment position.

The adjusting method using the adjusting lever 27 of this embodiment can be applied to the ink jet printer 10 of the first to third embodiments and a fifth embodiment described later.

Next, a description will be given of a fifth embodiment in which the operation of the rotating members 12A and 12B of the ink jet printer 10 in the first embodiment is changed. FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet printer according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the control means 24 'controls the rotation timing of the rotating members 12A and 12B while determining the ink drying time which differs depending on the type of recording paper and the amount of print data. The control unit 24 ′ includes the paper type determination unit 4
0, a data amount determining unit 41, a drying time determining unit 42, a printing start permitting unit 43, a time measuring unit 44, a drying confirming unit 45, and a rotation executing unit 46.

The paper type determining means 40 determines the type of the recording paper to be used based on the data sent from the host device. The data amount determining means 41 determines the amount of data to be printed on one sheet of recording paper based on the data sent from the host device.

The drying time judging means 42 has a plurality of table data of ink drying time determined by the type of recording paper used and the amount of data to be printed on the recording paper. The drying time judging means 42 is
By comparing 0 and the determination result from the data amount determination unit 41 with the table data, the time required for drying the ink printed on one sheet of recording paper is determined.

The printing start permitting unit 43 sends a printing start command to the printing mechanism unit 11 to start printing on the recording paper 16 when the drying time determining unit 42 determines the ink drying time. The time measuring means 44 measures an elapsed time from the time when printing on one recording paper 16 is completed.

The drying confirmation means 45 determines whether or not the ink drying time printed on the recording paper 16 two sheets earlier has elapsed based on the time measured by the time measuring means 44 and the ink drying time by the drying time determining means 41. Is determined, and when it is confirmed that the ink drying time has already elapsed, a rotation signal is sent to the rotation execution means 46.

The rotation executing means 46 completes printing on one sheet of recording paper 16, and this recording paper 16 is
A and 12B, the rotating member 12
A rotation command is sent to the rotation mechanisms A and 12B, and the rotation members 12A and 12B are rotated one step (approximately 90 °) in the reverse direction. In addition, the rotation execution unit 45 includes a drying confirmation unit 45.
When the rotation signal is input from the rotation member 12A,
A rotation command is transmitted to the rotation mechanism of the rotation member 12B.
A and 12B are rotated one step in the reverse direction.

The ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment
0 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, a user loads a desired type of recording paper into a paper loading unit (not shown) of the inkjet printer 10,
By operating a host device such as a personal computer, the type of recording paper used for printing and desired data to be printed are input. In the control unit 24 ', when data from a higher-level device is input (step S1), the paper type determination unit 40 determines the type of the recording paper 16 used in the current printing based on the data (step S2). ). Also, the data amount determining means 4
1 determines the amount of data to be printed on one recording sheet 16 (step S3).

Next, the drying time determining means 42 determines the time required for drying the ink printed on the first recording paper 16a based on the determination results of the paper type determining means 40 and the data amount determining means 41, respectively. (Step S4). Furthermore,
The printing start permitting unit 43 sends a printing start command to the printing mechanism unit 11 to start printing on the recording paper 16a (step S5). When the last ink adheres to the recording paper 16a during printing and printing is completed, the time measuring means 4
4 starts measuring the elapsed time from the end of printing (step S6). At this time, when the recording paper 16a on which printing has been completed is placed on the pair of support bars 14a, the rotation execution means 46 sends a rotation command to the rotation mechanism of the rotation members 12A and 12B, and the rotation members 12A and 12B rotate. , 12B are rotated by about 90 ° in opposite directions to each other, and the next pair of support bars 14b are prepared for the succeeding recording paper 16b (step S).
7).

Further, in step S8, the subsequent recording paper 16
b, the printing is terminated if not, and if so, the process proceeds to step S9 where the data amount determining means 41 determines the data amount to be printed on the recording paper 16b, and the drying time determining means 42 Then, the ink drying time of the recording paper 16b is determined (step S10). After this,
The printing start permitting unit 43 sends a printing start command to the printing mechanism unit 11 to start printing on the recording paper 16b (step S11). At the time when printing on the recording paper 16b is completed, the time measuring means 44 starts measuring the elapsed time from the end of printing (step S12), and the recording paper 16b on which printing has been completed is placed on the pair of support bars 14b. When placed,
The rotation executing means 46 rotates the rotating members 12A and 12B by approximately 90 ° in opposite directions to each other, and prepares the next pair of support bars 14c for the succeeding recording paper 16c (step S13).

Further, in step S14, the subsequent recording paper 1
6c, the printing is terminated. If there is not, the process proceeds to step S15 to determine the amount of data to be printed on the recording paper 16c. The time is determined (step S16). Thereafter, the printing start permission unit 43 sends a printing start command to the printing mechanism unit 11 to start printing on the recording paper 16c (step S17). Recording paper 16
At the time when the printing on c is completed, the time measuring means 44 starts measuring the elapsed time from the end of the printing (step S1).
8). Further, the drying confirmation unit 45 determines the recording paper 1 determined by the drying time determination unit 41 based on the elapsed time of the recording paper 16 a two sheets before measured by the time measuring unit 44.
The ink drying time of 6a is subtracted, and it is determined whether the value is 0 or more. As a result, if the value is smaller than 0, step S19 is repeated. If the value is 0 or larger, it is determined that the ink drying time of the recording paper 16a has already elapsed, and a rotation signal is sent to the rotation executing means 46 (step S20).

Next, in step S21, the existence of the succeeding recording paper 16d is checked. If there is no recording paper 16d, printing is terminated. If there is, the control from step S15 is repeated.

As described above, according to the ink jet printer 10 of this embodiment, each ink drying time that differs depending on the type of recording paper used and the amount of print data is determined, and the ink drying time elapses during the printing process. During this time, the rotating members 12A and 12B are not rotated, and only when the ink drying time has elapsed, the rotating members 12A and 12B are rotated so that the recording paper can be placed on the discharge stacker 13b. Accordingly, since the subsequent recording medium is not overlapped while the ink of the previous recording medium is not dried, there is no problem that both recording mediums are stained with ink.

The control method by the control means 24 'of this embodiment can be applied to the ink jet printer 10 of the second to fourth embodiments.

As described above, the present invention has been described based on the preferred embodiment. However, the ink jet image forming apparatus such as the ink jet printer of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. An inkjet image forming apparatus in which various modifications and changes have been made from the configuration of the above-described embodiment is also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0053]

As described above, in the ink jet type image forming apparatus of the present invention, the recording quality can be improved by preventing ink stains and ink dripping of the recording medium discharged continuously. Further, the vertical dimension of the housing space of the printer can be reduced, and the speed of continuous printing can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an inkjet printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the sheet discharge processing unit viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a state where each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state where each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process, in a state different from FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process, in a state different from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state where each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process, in a state different from FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a state where each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process, in a state different from FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state where each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process, which is different from FIG.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process, which is different from FIG.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state where each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process, in a state different from FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a state in which each support bar supports a recording sheet during a printing process, which is different from FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet printer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

13 is a front view showing the paper discharge mechanism in a state viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state in which the rotating member of FIG. 13 rotates and processes recording paper discharged continuously.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing the paper discharge mechanism in a state viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating an ink jet printer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing the paper discharge mechanism in a state viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an ink jet printer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

20 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ink jet printer of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the inkjet printer of FIG.

FIG. 22 is a side sectional view showing a main part of a conventional ink jet printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ink-jet printer 11 Printing mechanism part 11a Discharge port 12A, 12B Rotary member 13 Discharge processing part 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d Support bar 15, 25 Stay 16 Recording paper 20 Rotary shaft 24, 24 'Control means 27 Adjustment lever 40 Paper Type determination means 41 Data amount determination means 42 Drying time determination means 43 Printing start permission means 44 Time measurement means 45 Dry confirmation means 46 Rotation execution means H Substantially horizontal direction

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet type image forming apparatus of a type in which sheet-like recording media discharged from a discharge port are sequentially stacked and placed, a discharge mechanism for discharging the recording medium in a substantially horizontal direction from the discharge port, and Comprises a pair of rotating members that extend substantially parallel to the discharge direction, are arranged to face each other, and rotate in synchronization with each other in the opposite direction, and the pair of rotating members cooperate with each other. An ink jet type image forming apparatus, comprising: a support portion for supporting the edge of the recording medium from below, wherein the support portion drops the recording medium in accordance with the rotation of the rotating member. 2. The ink jet type image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support portion has a rod shape having a length from a front end to a rear end in a recording medium discharge direction. 3. The ink jet type image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the support portions are arranged at equal angular intervals on a concentric circle of a rotation axis of the rotation member. 4. The ink jet type image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the supporting portions is disposed at an interval of about 90 ° about a rotation axis of the rotating member. 5. A rotary member intermittently rotates by approximately 90 °, and at a position where the support receives a recording medium from a discharge port, a line connecting the support and the rotary shaft is substantially horizontal. The ink-jet image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the angle is approximately 45 °. 6. The rotating member rotates intermittently by approximately 90 ° at a position where the support section receives a recording medium from a discharge port, and a line connecting the support section and the rotating shaft is substantially horizontally oriented. 5. An ink jet type image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the angle is substantially 90 [deg.]. 7. Each of the supporting portions is disposed at an interval of about 120 ° about a rotation axis of the rotating member, and each of the rotating members is disposed at an angle of about 120 °.
4. The ink-jet image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the ink-jet image forming apparatus rotates intermittently by ゜. 8. The ink jet type image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting a distance between the pair of rotating members. 9. A control unit for controlling a printing process, wherein the control unit determines an ink drying time that differs depending on a type of a printing medium to be used and a printing data amount, and determines an ink of a printing medium released earlier. The inkjet image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rotation of the pair of rotating members is controlled so that the next recording medium is dropped after a drying time has elapsed. apparatus.