JPH1134310A - Ink jet recording method and equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the durability of the recording surface of a recording medium that is recorded by an ink jet method. SOLUTION: In the ink jet recorder wherein a recording medium is transferred and an ink jet head 12 records an image on the recording medium, recording paper 1 is transferred to a recording position through a transport route from a paper feed cassette 2 that can store a plurality of recording mediums in a stacked state, and an image is recorded by an ink jet head 12. After an image is recorded by the ink jet head 12, the recording paper is heated and dried by heaters 36, 37, and held together with a laminate sheet 38 by heating rollers 29, 30 and heated and its recording surface is laminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording method and apparatus for improving the durability of a recording medium after recording.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ink jet recording apparatus, various types of recording media can be used. Examples of such recording media include plain paper, glossy paper, transparent sheets for OHP, postcards, envelopes, and seal paper. and so on. When recording is performed using these various recording media, the recording medium on which the recording has been performed is naturally or forcibly dried and then placed on a paper discharge tray or the like.

[0003]

Therefore, in the conventional ink jet recording apparatus, for example, when the surface of the recording medium on which the recording is performed is strongly rubbed with a finger or the like, the recorded portion may be blurred or accidentally spilled with water. In such a case, there is a problem that the recorded portion is blurred. Further, if the recorded recording medium is left in the air for a long period of time, there is a problem that the ink is oxidized by ozone or the like in the air to lower the recording density or discolored by light.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and has as its object to provide an ink jet recording method and apparatus in which the durability of a recording surface of a recording medium recorded by an ink jet method is improved.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording method and apparatus which improve the durability of the recording surface of a recording medium by performing a laminating process on the recording surface of the recorded recording medium.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording method and apparatus in which a protective member is applied to a recording surface of a recorded recording medium to improve the durability of the recording surface of the recording medium. .

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, an ink jet recording apparatus that conveys a recording medium and records an image on the recording medium by an ink jet recording head, and a storage unit that can store a plurality of recording media in a stacked manner, and is fed from the storage unit. Conveying means for conveying a recording medium, recording control means for discharging an ink from the ink jet recording head to the recording medium conveyed by the conveying means to record an image, and at least one of the recording medium recorded by the ink jet recording head Applying means for applying a protective member to the recording surface side.

In order to achieve the above object, the ink jet recording method of the present invention comprises the following steps. That is, an inkjet recording method for conveying a recording medium and recording an image on the recording medium by an inkjet recording head, wherein a plurality of recording media are stacked and stored in a storage unit,
A transporting step of transporting the recording medium fed from the storage section, a recording control step of discharging ink from the inkjet recording head to the recording medium transported in the transporting step to record an image, and the inkjet recording head Applying a protective member to at least the recording surface side of the recording medium on which the recording is performed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a sheet conveying mechanism of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following embodiments, the recording medium will be described as a recording sheet. However, the recording sheet is not limited to a normal recording sheet, but may be a resin sheet such as an OHP sheet or various recording sheets subjected to a special coating process. And the like.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes stacked unused recording paper, which is placed substantially horizontally on a supply tray (paper feed cassette) 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a suction cup, which is moved from a position a in the figure to a position b in contact with one of the uppermost sheets of the unused unused recording paper 1 by a suction cup moving mechanism (108 in FIG. 4) described later. Paper can be sucked and lifted.
At this time, the pressure inside the suction cup 3 is reduced in a state where the suction cup 3 is in contact with the recording paper by a suction mechanism (109 in FIG. 4) described later, and the uppermost sheet of the recording paper 1 is sucked. Separate recording paper from other recording paper. In that state, the suction cup moving mechanism 1
08 moves to the position c in the figure, and the leading end of the separated recording sheet can be inserted between the transport rollers 4 and 5. Thereafter, the suction operation of the suction mechanism 109 is stopped to release the suction force of the suction cup 3, and the restriction of the recording paper by the suction cup 3 can be released.

The transfer rollers 4 and 5 are driven by a drive source such as a transfer motor (106 in FIG. 4) and a clutch mechanism (1 in FIG. 4).
07) and the like. Reference numerals 6 and 7 denote guide plates which are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval, and form a supply path for recording paper conveyed by rotation of the conveying rollers 4 and 5. The cross-sectional shape of the supply path formed by the guide plates 6 and 7 is substantially semicircular, and extends from the vicinity of the transport rollers 4 and 5 to the upper sub-scan rollers 8 and 9. These sub-scanning rollers 8 and 9, together with a second pair of sub-scanning rollers 10 and 11 arranged in parallel in the left direction in the figure, hold the conveyed recording paper, and control a control unit (see FIG. The paper is fed under control such as 101). Reference numeral 15 denotes a guide plate for regulating the position of the recording paper between the sub-scanning rollers 8, 9, 10, and 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a recording head (ink-jet head) in which a plurality of ink ejection nozzles are arranged in the direction in which the recording paper 1 is conveyed. Note that the recording head 12 may include a plurality of inkjet heads each of which ejects a different color ink.
Reference numeral 13 denotes an ink tank that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head 12. Recording head 12 and ink tank 1
Reference numeral 3 is mounted on a carriage, and is substantially perpendicular to the recording paper conveyance direction (FIG. 1) by a carriage guide disposed substantially parallel to the rotation axes of the sub-scanning rollers 8 to 11 in FIG.
(Vertical direction).

Reference numeral 16 denotes an unused second recording sheet stacked and accommodated in the upper recording sheet accommodation section. Reference numeral 17 denotes a pressure plate on which the stacked and stored recording paper 16 is placed and which is appropriately pressed toward the separation roller 18. Reference numerals 19 and 20 denote guide plates which form a second supply path for guiding the leading end of one sheet of recording paper taken out by the separation roller 18 to the sub-scanning rollers 8 and 9.

Reference numerals 21, 22, 23, and 24 denote recording papers 1, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-264879.
This is a means for detecting the presence / absence of 16 and its paper quality. 21,
Reference numeral 23 denotes a light source for irradiating the surface of the recording paper 1 or 16 with light of a predetermined wavelength, and reference numerals 22 and 24 denote photodetectors for receiving light reflected from the surface of the recording paper.

The detection of the paper quality of the recording paper by the reflected light is performed because the surface roughness differs according to the type of the recording paper, and the degree of light diffusion changes accordingly. Things. For example, the surface of plain paper is microscopically entangled with fibers and the diffusion of the surface is large, so that the outputs of the detectors 22 and 24 are small. On the other hand, in the case of a sheet having a smooth surface and a low degree of light diffusion, the detector 2
The outputs of 2, 24 increase. Whether the recording paper corresponding to the first separation mechanism using the suction cup 3 or the second separation mechanism using the separation roller 18 is loaded in the corresponding cassette by using such a light detecting means. ,
Alternatively, it is possible to determine whether or not recording paper suitable for recording is mounted.

Reference numerals 26 and 27 denote guide plates which form a conveyance path for guiding the recording paper discharged with the rotation of the sub-scanning rollers 10 and 11 to the later-described process after the recording by the recording head 12 is completed. Reference numerals 36 and 37 denote planar heaters attached to the guide plates 26 and 27, which heat the recording paper in the transport path formed by the guide plates 26 and 27 and promote drying of the ink ejected on the recording paper. I do.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a roll of a laminating sheet, which is rotatable by a driving motor 46 shown in FIG. 4 and supplies a laminating sheet 38 between the heating rollers 29 and 30 for laminating. The heating rollers 29 and 30
The recording paper and the laminate sheet 38 are simultaneously nipped and conveyed while heating. Thereby, these heating rollers 2
The recording paper that has passed through the sheets 9 and 30 and the laminate sheet 38 are discharged in a bonded state. Reference numeral 39 denotes an air duct for cooling the recording paper on which the lamination has been completed. 31, 32
Is a cutter for cutting a laminate sheet, a portion indicated by 31 is fixed to the apparatus, and a portion indicated by 32 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the laminate sheet, and the sheet can be cut at a desired timing. it can. A discharge roller 33 discharges the recording paper on which recording and lamination has been completed to the outside of the apparatus through a discharge port 34 and deposits the recording paper on a receiving tray 35.

By using the detection results by the detectors 22 and 24, the heating conditions of the laminate according to the paper quality of the recording paper placed on the paper feed cassette 2 and the pressure plate 17, the transport speed at the time of lamination, etc. May be set as appropriate.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a suction mechanism of the suction cup 3.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 3 denotes a suction cup, which has a hole 45 for suction. This hole 45 is connected to the hose 41
It is connected to the. The other end of the hose 41 is connected to a solenoid valve 42. The other side of the electromagnetic valve 42 is connected to an electromagnetic pump 44 via a hose 43. A rubber diaphragm 85 shown in FIG. 3 is provided inside the electromagnetic pump 44. The diaphragm 85 repeatedly pushes and pulls the central portion 85a at high speed by electromagnetic force generating means (not shown). The diaphragm 85 is fitted into a base 86, and the base 86 is provided with an intake port 86a, an exhaust port 86b, and one-way valves 87 and 88. The hose 43 is connected to an intake port 86 a of the diaphragm 85 inside the electromagnetic pump 44. Therefore, the diaphragm 85
The gas sucked in from the intake port 86a is exhausted from the exhaust port 86b by the push-pull operation of, and as a result, the pressure of the portion connected to the intake port 86a can be reduced.

In the case of adsorbing recording paper with such a configuration,
The suction cup 3 is pressed against the recording paper, the electromagnetic valve 42 is closed, and the electromagnetic pump 44 is operated. Electromagnetic pump 4 during recording paper suction
Continue driving 4. When releasing the suction by the suction cup 3, the electromagnetic valve 42 is released and the electromagnetic pump 44 is stopped. Here, the electromagnetic valve 42 is used in order to quickly take in the outside air and quickly release the suction by the suction cup 3. If the electromagnetic pump 44 is not provided and the electromagnetic pump 44 is stopped to release the adsorption only by slowing down the exhaust, the adsorption is not released easily and the operation of the apparatus is hindered.

The electromagnetic pump 44 has various methods other than the illustrated diaphragm type. For example, a spiral-type pump that rotates the internal impeller to exhaust air may be used.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, and portions common to the above-described portions are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a control unit for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, and a control unit such as a microcomputer.
U120, a program memory for storing a control program executed by the CPU 120 and the like, a RAM 122 for temporarily storing various data when the CPU 120 executes processing, and the like. A head driver 102 performs printing by driving the print head 12 according to an instruction from the control unit 101. Each of 103 and 104 is a motor driver, which rotationally drives the corresponding carriage motor 105 and transport motor 106 according to an instruction from the control unit 101. The carriage motor 105 is a motor for transporting and driving the recording head 12, and the transport motor 10
Reference numeral 6 can independently drive the transfer rollers 4, 5, 8, and 10 and the separation roller 18 shown in FIG. 1 independently via a clutch mechanism 107. Reference numeral 108 denotes a suction cup moving mechanism for moving the suction cup 3 between the positions a, b, and c in FIG. A suction mechanism 109 exhausts air from the suction port of the suction cup 3 to cause the suction cup 3 to suck the recording sheet. 2
Reference numerals 2 and 24 are paper sensors shown in FIG.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a roll 2 for a laminate sheet.
Each of the motors 47 to 49 that rotationally drives the motor 8 and the heating roller 2 according to the instruction of the control unit 101.
9, a driver for driving each of the cutters 32; Although the lamination sheet roll 28 is described as being rotated by the motor 46 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.
The sheet 38 may be caused to rotate by being pulled by the rotation of the sheet 30.

Next, an outline of the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described below.

First, the paper feed cassette 2 below the apparatus
A case will be described in which the recording paper 1 stacked on is selected and recording is performed. When recording start is instructed, the suction cup moving mechanism 108 moves the suction cup 3 from the position a to the position b, and comes into contact with one of the uppermost sheets of the recording paper 1 stacked on the sheet cassette 2. Next, by the suction mechanism 109, the suction cup 3
The interior is evacuated and its internal pressure is reduced. As a result, the uppermost recording sheet is adsorbed to the suction cup 3. afterwards,
After moving the suction cup 3 to the upper position a by the suction cup mechanism 108, the suction cup 3 is further moved rightward in FIG. 1 to the position c, and the leading end of one sheet of recording paper adsorbed by the suction cup 3 is moved. Between the transport rollers 4 and 5. When these transport rollers 4 and 5 are driven to rotate by the rotation of the transport motor 106, the recording paper inserted between the transport rollers 4 and 5 becomes the first sheet formed by the guide plates 6 and 7. The information advances along the supply path, and the leading end thereof is inserted into the sub-scanning rollers 8 and 9 and pinched.

The recording paper thus conveyed is nipped by the sub-scanning rollers 8 and 9, and intermittently conveys and stops. While the conveyance is stopped, the recording head 12 is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction. Drives the recording head 12 according to the image data to be recorded while moving. Thereby, ink is ejected from the recording head 12 to record an image. When the leading edge of the recording paper on which the image is recorded reaches the second sub-scanning rollers 10 and 11, the recording paper is conveyed while being sandwiched by the four sub-scanning rollers 8, 9, 10, and 11. You. After the trailing edge of the recording paper is separated from the first sub-scanning rollers 8 and 9, the recording paper is conveyed only by the rotation of the second sub-scanning rollers 10 and 11. Here, the leading end of the recording paper during recording is heated rollers 29, 3
It is configured not to reach the zero position. Accordingly, the recording paper is sandwiched between the heating rollers 29 and 30, so that the sub-scan feed accuracy of the recording paper during the recording operation does not decrease.

The recording paper on which recording has been completed in this way sequentially enters the transport path formed by the guide plates 26 and 27 from the leading end thereof, and the ink discharged on the recording surface is dried by heating by the heaters 36 and 37. You. Then, before the trailing edge of the recording paper separates from the second pair of sub-scanning rollers 10, 11, the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of the heating rollers 29, 30 and is held therebetween. The heating rollers 29 and 30 hold the laminate sheet 38 and the recording sheet supplied from the laminate sheet roll 28 in close contact at the same time, and convey them to the right in the figure while heating them, thereby bonding them. Further, the recording paper discharged from the heating rollers 29 and 30 is cooled by the airflow blown out from the air duct 39. After the recording paper and the laminate sheet 38 are bonded in this manner, unnecessary portions at the leading and trailing ends of the recording paper are sequentially cut by the cutters 31 and 32.
The unnecessary portion cut in this way is stored in a storage unit (not shown) in the apparatus, and is appropriately discarded by an operator. Further, the cut sheet is discharged onto a discharge tray 35 from a discharge port 34 by a discharge roller 33.

Next, the case where the second recording paper 16 set in the upper paper storage section is selected for recording will be described.

First, the pressure plate 17 moves upward in response to the recording start command, and presses the uppermost sheet of the recording paper 16 laminated thereon against the separation roller 18. The separation roller 18 rotates clockwise, thereby rotating the uppermost one of the recording paper.
The sheets can be sent out to the second supply path formed by the guide plates 19 and 20. The leading end of the recording paper sent out in this manner is held between the sub-scanning rollers 8 and 9, and is conveyed by its rotation. The subsequent operation during recording is the same as the operation when recording on the recording paper from the paper cassette 2 described above.

In such a configuration, the first recording medium 1 is a large-sized recording medium such as A2 or A3 and has high adhesion between recording papers, for example, a white or transparent PET base film. Even if it is an image receiving paper provided with an absorbing layer, even if a plurality of
It can be conveyed one by one.

On the other hand, as the second recording medium 16 housed in the upper housing section, the sheet can be sent out by the separation roller 18.
For example, by setting paper such as ordinary plain paper,
This also automatically and one-by-one without manual feed
Sheets can be transported reliably one by one.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a recording process performed by the ink jet recording apparatus according to this embodiment. The control program for executing this process is a program memory 121.
Is stored in

This processing is started by an instruction to start the recording processing. First, in step S1, the recording is performed using the recording paper (first recording paper 1) stored in the cassette 2 or the recording paper is stored in the upper storage section. The contained recording paper (second recording paper 1
It is determined whether or not the recording process uses the recording process 6). If the recording process uses the first recording paper 1, the process proceeds to step S2, and the suction cup moving mechanism 108 moves the suction cup 3 from the position a to the position b. Suction the top recording paper. Then, in step S3, the suction cup 3 is moved to the position c as it is.
, And the leading end of the recording paper is nipped between the transport rollers 4 and 5. Then, the process proceeds to step S4, in which the transport rollers 4 and 5 are driven to rotate, and the paper sandwiched between the rollers 4 and 5 is transported along the feeding path. If the recording is not performed on the recording paper 1 in the paper feed cassette 2 in step S1, the process proceeds to step S16, in which the separation roller 18 is rotated to convey the recording paper 16 placed on the pressure plate 17.

In step S5, when the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the position of the sub-scanning rollers 8, 9, the rollers 8, 9
, And the recording paper is moved to the recording position by these rotations. In step S6, it is checked whether the recording sheet has reached the print position. When the recording sheet has reached the print position, the process proceeds to step S7, where the carriage motor 1
05, the print head 12 is driven according to the image data to be printed while the print head 12 is being scanned, and print processing is performed. When the leading edge of the recording sheet reaches the position of the sub-scanning rollers 10 and 11 in step S8, the process proceeds to step S9, in which the driving of the transporting rollers 10 and 11 in addition to the rollers 8 and 9 is started. Then, when the recording by the recording head 12 for one scan is completed, the recording head 12 is returned to the home position (carriage return), and the sub-scanning rollers 8 to 11 are driven to rotate so that a predetermined amount of recording paper is formed according to the recording width. The recording medium is conveyed, and the recording processing described above is executed.

These processes are repeated until the printing process for one page is completed. When the printing process for one page is completed, the process proceeds to step S11, where the heating process (drying) by the heaters 36 and 37 is performed, and further, the process proceeds to step S12. Then, the recording paper and the sheet 38 are heated and transported by the heating rollers 29 and 30. Here, depending on the type of recording medium detected by the detector 22 or 24, this heating roller 2
The heating by 9 and 30 may be controlled. In step S13, the unnecessary portion at the front end is cut by the cutters 31 and 32, and after the heating and conveyance by the heating rollers 29 and 30, the unnecessary portion at the rear end reaches the position of the cutters 31 and 32. Unnecessary portions are cut by cutters 31 and 32. After the laminated recording paper is discharged by the rotation of the paper discharge roller 33, in step S15,
The driving of the heaters 36 and 37 and the heating rollers 29 and 30 is stopped.

The detection of the leading and trailing edge positions of the recording paper in steps S5, S6, S8, and steps S13, S14 may be performed by a paper sensor (not shown). / Or 8, 9, heating roller 2
The determination may be based on the rotation amounts of 9, 30.

Further, in the judgment processing of step S1,
It is determined based on signals from the paper sensors 22 and 24 which recording paper storage section contains the type of recording paper to be used for printing, and the recording paper from the storage section where the recording paper is stored is determined. May be selected for printing. Further, the heating control in the heating process after the recording may be changed according to the type of recording paper used for the recording. At this time, when it is determined that the desired recording paper is not set in any of the storage units, for example, an error message may be displayed, or the error message may be returned to the host device instructing the printing. .

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Portions common to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The feature of the second embodiment is that, in the first embodiment, after the recording is completed, the coating is performed with a laminate film, whereas in the second embodiment, in the post-processing step after the recording, the lamination is performed. The point is that the liquid is applied to the recording surface instead of the film.

In FIG. 6, a liquid 52 is a liquid for improving the weather resistance of the ink after recording, and is supplied to the container 51 from a tank (not shown) by a supply device (not shown). It is automatically supplied and controlled so that the height of the surface is within a predetermined range. Reference numeral 53 denotes a liquid application roller. The surface portion 53a has a sponge-like structure through which the liquid 52 can penetrate. A part of the surface 53a is in contact with the liquid 52 in the container 51, and the liquid application roller 53 is By rotating by the drive of the illustrated drive source, the surface 5
The liquid 52 can be uniformly infiltrated into 3a. 54
Reference numeral denotes a transport roller for nipping and transporting the recording paper in cooperation with the liquid application roller 53. The transport roller 54 is separated from the liquid application roller 53 when the recording paper is not nipped so that the liquid 52 does not adhere to the surface thereof, and is applied only when the recording paper is interposed. It is desirable that the recording paper be held in contact with the transfer roller 53 and the transfer roller 54. A drying heater 55 is used to dry the recording paper to which the liquid 52 has been applied.

With the above arrangement, after the recording by the recording head 12 is completed, before the trailing edge of the recording paper separates from the second pair of sub-scanning rollers 10 and 11, the leading edge of the recording paper becomes the transport roller 54 and the liquid. It reaches the position of the application roller 53. Then, the transport roller 54 and the liquid applying roller 5
3, the recording paper is held between the rollers 53 and 54.
With the rotation of, the liquid 52 is uniformly applied to one surface of the recording paper. The recording paper to which the liquid has been applied is dried by the heater 55 at the subsequent stage, and then discharged out of the apparatus by rotation of the discharge roller 33.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing this processing.

The processing from steps S21 to S30 in FIG. 7 is the same as the processing from steps S1 to S10 in FIG. 5, and a description thereof will be omitted.

When the printing is completed in step S30, the process proceeds to step S31, in which the rollers 10 and 11 are further rotated so that the leading end of the recorded recording paper is brought into contact with the liquid application roller 53.
(Step S32), and when it reaches the position, the process proceeds to Step S33, where the liquid application roller 53 is moved.
The liquid is uniformly moistened on the surface portion 53a (can be omitted in the case of continuous recording), and the conveyed recording paper is nipped by the liquid applying roller 53 and the conveying roller 54. With the recording paper held between the rollers 5
3 and 54 are rotated (step S34). Next, in step S35, the heater 55 is driven to
Is dried, and in step S36, the paper discharge roller 33 is driven to rotate, and the recorded paper is discharged.

The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and various modifications can be considered within the scope of the present invention. (1) The roller for liquid application is not limited to a sponge-shaped roller, but may be a rubber roller or a metal roller. (2) The application of the liquid is not limited to the method using a roller, and may be, for example, sprayed in a mist state, or may be discharged from a line-shaped discharging unit. Alternatively, the liquid may be wetted by a fixed sponge member that does not rotate, and may be conveyed in contact with the liquid. Alternatively, the solution may be passed through a tank containing the solution. (3) Lamination and liquid application may be performed on recording paper during recording. (4) The second unused recording paper holding means may be omitted. (5) The suction cup and the roller are not limited to the positions in the embodiment, and a roller may be disposed in the first unused recording sheet storage section, and a suction cup may be disposed in the second unused recording sheet storage section. (6) The conveyance roller may be omitted, and the recording sheet may be inserted into the sub-scanning roller pair by moving the suction cup. (7) The supply tray and the receiving tray may be slightly inclined from the horizontal to align the recording paper. (8) The means for detecting the quality of recording paper used for recording may be another method. A notch may be provided in the recording paper, or printing or a sticker for detection may be attached. (9) The paper quality used for recording may be input by the operator.

The present invention brings about an excellent effect particularly in a recording head and a recording apparatus utilizing thermal energy among ink jet recording methods.

The typical configuration and principle are described in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740.
It is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and continuous type. In particular, in the case of the on-demand type, liquid (ink)
By applying at least one drive signal corresponding to the recorded information and providing a rapid temperature rise exceeding the nucleate boiling to an electrothermal transducer arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the Then, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal transducer, causing film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording head. As a result, air bubbles in the liquid (ink) can be formed in one-to-one correspondence with the drive signal. It is valid. The liquid (ink) flows through the ejection opening due to the growth and contraction of this bubble.
To form at least one droplet. If the drive signal is formed into a pulse shape, the growth and shrinkage of the bubbles are performed immediately and appropriately.
Discharge can be achieved, which is more preferable.

As the pulse-shaped drive signal, those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Further, 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 configuration of the recording head, in addition to the combination of a discharge port, a liquid path, and an electrothermal converter (a linear liquid flow path or a right-angled liquid flow path) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications, A configuration using U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting surface is arranged in a bent region, is also included in the present invention. In addition, for multiple electrothermal transducers,
JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which a common slot is used as a discharge portion of an electrothermal converter, and JP-A-59-123670 which discloses a configuration in which an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy corresponds to a discharge portion. The present invention is also effective as a configuration based on JP-A-138461.

Further, as a full-line type recording head having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium that can be recorded by the recording apparatus, the length is determined by combining a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above specification. This may be either a configuration satisfying the above requirements or a configuration as a single recording head formed integrally.

In addition, the recording head is replaceable with a print head of a replaceable chip type, which can be electrically connected to the main body of the apparatus or supplied with ink from the main body of the apparatus, or integrated with the recording head itself. Alternatively, a cartridge type recording head provided with an ink tank may be used.

It is preferable to add recovery means for the printhead, preliminary auxiliary means, and the like provided as components of the printing apparatus of the present invention since the effects of the present invention can be further stabilized. . If these are specifically mentioned, capping means for the recording head, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, preheating means using an electrothermal transducer or another heating element or a combination thereof, and printing Performing a preliminary ejection mode for performing another ejection is also effective for performing stable printing.

Further, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to a recording mode of only a mainstream color such as black, and may be a single recording head or a combination of plural recording heads. Alternatively, the apparatus may be provided with at least one of full colors by color mixture.

In the embodiments of the present invention described above, the ink is described as a liquid. However, an ink which solidifies at room temperature or lower, or an ink which softens or liquefies at room temperature may be used. In general, in the ink jet system, the temperature of the ink itself is controlled within a range of 30 ° C. or more and 70 ° C. or less to control the temperature so that the viscosity of the ink is in a stable ejection range. It is sufficient if the ink is in a liquid state.

In addition, in order to positively prevent temperature rise due to thermal energy as energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, the temperature is positively prevented.
Alternatively, in order to prevent evaporation of the ink, an ink which solidifies in a standing state and liquefies by heating may be used. In any case, the application of heat energy causes the ink to be liquefied by the application of the heat energy recording signal and the liquid ink to be ejected, or by the time the ink reaches the recording medium, the solidification of the ink already begun. The present invention is also applicable to a case where an ink having a property of liquefying for the first time is used. In such a case, as described in JP-A-54-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, the ink is held in a liquid state or a solid state in the concave portion or through hole of the porous sheet. It is good also as a form which opposes an electrothermal transducer. In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a single device (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile, etc.) Device).

An object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
Or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

According to the present embodiment as described above, the following effects can be obtained. (a) With a simple configuration, a protective member can be added on the recording surface of the recording paper, and the weather resistance of the recorded image is improved. In addition, by selecting the type of the laminate film or the liquid to be applied, scratch resistance, ozone resistance, light resistance, water resistance, and the like can be improved. (b) By arranging a means for adding a protection member for protecting the recording surface to the recording surface on the downstream side of the recording paper transport path and in a linear transport path, the recording paper is heated by heating the recording paper. No curling occurs. (c) If the means for adding the protective member is a mechanism for adhering the laminate film to the sheet, since the ink recorded on the recording paper is shielded from the outside air, it reacts with ozone and the like in the air and oxidizes to reduce the concentration. It does not drop. (d) When the means for adding the protective member applies the liquid to the sheet, the heating roller required for lamination can be omitted. There is no process to cut out unnecessary parts. Therefore, the device can be simplified. (e) By providing a heater in the linear transport path near the sub-scanning transport roller and drying the recording paper, the recording paper can be dried quickly without curling even if a large amount of ink is ejected during recording. This is advantageous when ink is overprinted to increase gradation and density. (f) Immediately before or after the recording by the recording head is completed, the leading edge of the recording paper does not penetrate the protective member into the roller, so that the sub-scanning accuracy of the recording sheet is not reduced. (g) By detecting the type of recording paper loaded in an unused recording sheet storage section, it is possible to perform control for changing various processes depending on the type of recording paper. (h) The apparatus automatically recognizes the type of unused recording sheet or by an operator's input, and controls the driving conditions of a roller or the like for applying a protective member to the surface of the recording paper after recording to a desired value. Thus, the operation of the operator can be saved, and efficient and stable operation without erroneous operation can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate waste of recording paper due to erroneous detection of the type of recording paper used for recording.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the durability of the recording surface of the recording medium recorded by the ink jet method.

According to the present invention, the durability of the recording surface of the recording medium can be improved by performing a lamination process on the recording surface of the recorded recording medium.

Further, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the durability of the recording surface of the recording medium can be improved by applying the protective member to the recording surface of the recorded recording medium.

[0069]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a suction function of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a diaphragm in the electromagnetic pump according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the inkjet recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a recording process in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a recording process in the inkjet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An ink jet recording apparatus for conveying a recording medium and recording an image on the recording medium by an ink jet recording head, comprising: a storage portion capable of storing a plurality of recording media in a stacked manner; Transport means for transporting the fed recording medium; recording control means for discharging an ink from the inkjet recording head onto the recording medium transported by the transport means to record an image; and recording recorded by the inkjet recording head. An applying unit for applying a protective member to at least the recording surface side of the medium. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applying unit is a supply unit that supplies a sheet material for laminating at least a recording surface of the recording medium, and is supplied from the supply unit. And a heating means for sandwiching and heating the sheet material and the recording medium. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applying unit includes: an applying unit that applies a protective member to at least a recording surface of the recording medium; and a protecting member that is applied by the applying unit. Drying means for drying. 4. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a type of the recording medium stored in the storage unit, and the detection unit detects the type of the recording medium. And a control unit for controlling the application of the protection member by the application unit according to the type of the recording medium. 5. An ink jet recording apparatus for conveying a recording medium and recording an image on the recording medium by an ink jet recording head, comprising: a first storage portion capable of storing a plurality of recording media in a stacked manner; A second storage unit capable of stacking and storing recording media, a conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium fed from the first and second storage units, and a first storage unit configured to store the recording medium. Suction moving means for sucking the uppermost recording medium among the recording media contained in at least one of the recording media by the suction unit and feeding the recording medium to a position at which the recording medium can be conveyed; Recording control means for discharging an ink from the ink jet recording head to the formed recording medium to record an image, and protecting at least a recording surface side of the recording medium recorded by the ink jet recording head. An ink jet recording apparatus, comprising: an applying unit for applying a member. 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the application unit is a supply unit that supplies a sheet material for laminating at least a recording surface of the recording medium, and is supplied from the supply unit. And a heating means for sandwiching and heating the sheet material and the recording medium. 7. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the applying unit includes: an applying unit that applies a protective member to at least a recording surface of the recording medium; and a protecting member that is applied by the applying unit. Drying means for drying. 8. An ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said detecting means detects a type of a recording medium stored in each of said first and second storage units. And control means for controlling the application of the protection member by the application means according to the type of recording medium used for the recording, which is detected by the detection means. 9. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording head comprises:
A recording head that ejects ink by using thermal energy, comprising: a thermal energy converter for generating thermal energy to be applied to the ink. 10. An ink jet recording method for conveying a recording medium and recording an image on the recording medium by an ink jet recording head, wherein a plurality of recording media are stacked and stored in a storage section, and fed from the storage section. A transporting step of transporting the recorded recording medium, a recording control step of discharging an ink from the inkjet recording head onto the recording medium transported in the transporting step, and recording an image, and a recording medium recorded by the inkjet recording head An applying step of applying a protective member on at least the recording surface side of the ink jet recording method. 11. The ink jet recording method according to claim 10, wherein, in the applying step, a supply step of supplying a sheet material for laminating at least a recording surface of the recording medium; A heating step of holding the sheet material and the recording medium therebetween and heating. 12. The ink jet recording method according to claim 10, wherein in the applying step, an applying step of applying a protective member to at least a recording surface of the recording medium, and drying the protective member applied in the applying step. And a drying step. 13. The ink jet recording method according to claim 10, wherein the ink jet recording head is a recording head that discharges ink using thermal energy, and is for generating thermal energy given to the ink. A heat energy converter is provided.