JP2008221500A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a high degree of freedom in function expansion and change according to specifications and excellent maintainability.
In an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of image forming units (3a, 3b) are connected in the traveling direction of a recording sheet (S), and each image forming unit (3a, 3b) ejects ink. An ink jet engine 5 having an ink head, a supply transport path 7 for transporting a recording medium to the ink jet engine 5, a discharge transport path 9 for discharging the image-formed recording medium S from the ink jet engine 5, and supplying ink to the ink jet engine 5 The inkjet engine 5 is detachably provided from the image forming units 3a and 3b.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image by ejecting ink from an ink head.

  Patent Document 1 discloses that an ink jet engine having an ink head for ejecting ink is provided detachably from an image forming apparatus.

  Patent Document 2 discloses that a plurality of image forming units are stacked and each image forming unit individually forms an image on a recording medium.

JP 2005-111979 A JP 2005-161654 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 2, a plurality of inkjet engines individually print on a recording medium to form an image, and therefore, only a plurality of image forming units are provided.

  On the other hand, in the market, when forming an image on a recording medium, high image quality is required, a high printing speed is required, or in some cases, a specific color is frequently used. (Specifications) are various, but if a model corresponding to each specification is manufactured, the manufacturing becomes complicated, and thus an image forming apparatus capable of easily expanding or changing the function is desired. Further, there is a high demand for an image forming apparatus with excellent maintainability.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus that has a high degree of freedom in function expansion and change according to specifications and is excellent in maintainability.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention described in claim 1 is directed to an inkjet engine having an ink head for discharging ink, a supply conveyance path for conveying a recording medium to the inkjet engine, and an inkjet recording medium on which an image is formed. An image forming unit having a discharge conveyance path for discharging from the engine and an ink path for supplying ink to the inkjet engine is provided, and a plurality of image forming units are provided and connected to each other in the traveling direction of the recording medium. The conveyance path is connected to the other supply conveyance path, and the ink jet engine is detachably provided from the image forming unit.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that a plurality of ink jet engines having ink heads for ejecting ink are provided in the recording medium conveyance direction, and each ink jet engine is detachably provided in the image forming apparatus main body. .

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each image forming unit includes a recording medium storage unit, and supplies the recording medium from the recording medium storage unit to the supply conveyance path. And

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each image forming unit includes a recording paper reversing unit, reverses the recording medium discharged from the discharge conveyance path, and starts the inkjet engine from the discharge conveyance path. And an image is formed on the back surface of the recording medium.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each image forming unit includes a discharge path branched from the discharge conveyance path and a discharge receiving portion that receives the recording medium discharged from the discharge path. It is characterized by providing.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, each ink jet engine includes an image registration adjusting sensor on the inlet side of the recording medium.

  The invention described in claim 7 is the invention described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plurality of inkjet engines are the same type of inkjet engine.

  The invention described in claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the plurality of inkjet engines are a monochrome inkjet engine and a color inkjet engine.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of inkjet engines is an inkjet engine that discharges a single color ink among the colors constituting black and color colors. It is characterized by that.

  The invention described in claim 10 is the invention described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of inkjet engines are inkjet engines having different resolutions.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, one image forming unit has a fitting portion on an end surface on the discharge conveyance path side, and the other image forming unit is fitted on an end surface on the supply conveyance path side. The image forming unit has a joint portion, and one image forming unit and the other image forming unit are positioned by fitting the fitting portion and the fitted portion.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, one image forming unit has a telecommunication connector on the end face of the discharge conveyance path, and the other image forming unit has a telecommunication connector on the end face of the supply conveyance path. Further, when the image forming units are coupled, the telecommunication connectors are fitted and connected to each other.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, one of the image forming units communicates with the ink path on the discharge conveyance path side end surface, and the other image forming unit communicates with the supply conveyance path side end surface with the ink path. And an ink connector is fitted and connected to each other when the image forming units are connected.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each image forming unit includes a waste ink path for transporting the waste ink, and one image forming unit is disposed on the end surface of the discharge transport path and the other image. The forming unit has a waste ink connector that communicates with the waste ink path on the end surface of the supply conveyance path, and the waste ink connector is fitted and connected to each other when the image forming unit is connected.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the ink path of each image forming unit is connected to a common ink tank, and the ink tank is shared by a plurality of image forming units. It is characterized by using.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each image forming unit includes a waste ink path for transporting the waste ink, and the waste ink path of each image forming unit is a common waste ink tank. The waste ink tank is commonly used by a plurality of image forming units.

  The invention described in claim 17 is the invention described in claim 1, wherein each image forming unit includes an ink tank, and the ink tank is connected to an ink path.

  The invention described in claim 18 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, each image forming unit includes a waste ink tank.

  According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, each ink jet engine is a line type ink jet engine using an ink jet recording head corresponding to the width of the recording medium.

  According to a twentieth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the first or second aspect, each ink jet engine is a serial type ink jet engine that scans an ink head in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a recording medium. To do.

  According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatus of an ink jet recording system, an image forming unit (or an ink jet engine) is connected to a recording medium in a conveyance direction, whereby the recording medium is discharged from each image forming unit (or ink jet engine). An image can be formed with the ink to be used, or an image can be formed with only one image forming unit (or an inkjet engine) as necessary, and the degree of freedom of function expansion and change according to specifications is high.

  In addition, since the ink jet engine is detachable, the function can be expanded or changed by exchanging the ink jet engine, and the maintainability is excellent.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an image forming unit, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an ink jet engine extracted.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment forms an image by an ink jet recording method, and is configured by connecting two image forming units 3a and 3b having substantially the same configuration.

  Each of the image forming units 3 a and 3 b includes an inkjet engine 5, a supply conveyance path 7 that conveys the recording medium to the inkjet engine 5, and a discharge conveyance path that conveys the image-formed recording medium (paper) S from the inkjet engine 5. 9, an ink tank 11, and an ink path 13 for supplying ink from the ink tank 11 to the inkjet engine 5.

  Each of the image forming units 3a and 3b has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape, and includes a supply conveyance path 7 and a discharge conveyance path 9 so as to convey the recording medium from the one end face 31a toward the other end face 31b. Are formed continuously, and an inkjet engine mounting portion 15 is provided between the supply conveyance path 7 and the discharge conveyance path 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ink jet engine 5 is attached to and detached from the ink jet engine mounting portion 15 in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium conveyance direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a paper feed cassette (recording medium storage unit) 17 is mounted below the ink jet engine mounting unit 15, and the recording medium S stacked on the paper feed cassette 17 is fed by a paper feed roller 19. It is taken out and conveyed to the supply conveyance path 7.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ink jet engine 5 is a serial type ink jet engine. As shown in FIG. 3, the carriage 21, the guide member (not shown) for guiding the carriage 21 in the main scanning direction, and the main scanning of the carriage 21 along the guide member. It has a main scanning motor 22 that moves in the direction, a conveyance belt 23 that conveys the recording medium, and a conveyance roller 24. The carriage 21 is provided with an ink head having a predetermined number of ejection openings on the lower surface for each color of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black). Ink is supplied to the carriage 21 from the ink tank 11 (see FIG. 1). The output end of the main scanning motor 22 is connected to the carriage 21 via a timing belt, and is converted into a linear motion to move the carriage 21 in the main scanning direction.

  The transport belt 23 is driven in the transport direction of the recording medium S by rotating the drive shaft 26 by the motor 25.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a handle 27 is provided on the casing 5 a of the inkjet engine 5, and can be inserted into and removed from the image forming unit from a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium S. In addition, an ink tank 11 beside the ink jet engine 5 is detachable from the image forming unit 3b in the same direction as the ink jet engine 5 so that ink or an ink cassette can be replenished.

  In the other image forming unit 3b, an intake port 33 for taking in the recording medium S discharged from the discharge conveyance path 7 of the other image forming unit 3a is formed in the supply conveyance path side end face 31a. The recording medium S discharged from the forming unit 3a is taken into the other image forming unit 3b and conveyed to the supply conveyance path 7 of the other image forming unit 3b.

  Further, in the other image forming unit 3b, two fitting projections 35a and 35b are provided on the supply conveyance path side end surface 31a with a gap therebetween, and the fitting projections 35a and 35b are provided on one image forming unit 3a. Two image forming units 3a and 3b are connected to each other by fitting into fitting recesses (not shown) formed on the discharge conveyance path side end face 31b.

  Next, functions and effects of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, recording is performed on the recording medium S supplied from one image forming unit 3a by the inkjet engine 5 of one image forming unit 3a, and then transported to the other image forming unit 3b. Further, since an image to be added can be formed by the inkjet engine 5 of the other image forming unit 3b, a plurality of images can be formed on the same recording medium. For example, one image forming unit 3a can print a diagram screen and the other image forming unit 3b can print a character image to form one image. Further, different images such as a landscape image and a person image can be printed separately on the one and the other image forming units 3a and 3b. Thus, the degree of freedom in image formation can be increased.

  Further, since each of the image forming units 3a and 3b has a paper feed cassette (paper feed unit 17), if any of the image forming units 3a and 3b is emptied or breaks down, it will be It is also possible to form an image using only the image forming units 3a and 3b. In this case, since the image forming units 3a and 3b are individually detachably provided with the ink jet engine 5, they are excellent in maintainability against problems such as failure.

  In the present embodiment, since the image forming units 3a and 3b having the same specifications are connected, one inkjet engine 5 can perform printing with another image forming unit during the maintenance / recovery operation. This is effective because it is not necessary to stop the printing operation halfway when printing needs to be performed (for example, in a factory) when it is necessary to perform a maintenance operation at certain intervals.

  In the present embodiment, the paper feed cassette 17 can be added simultaneously with the addition of the image forming units 3a and 3b. Also, a photo recording medium is mounted on the paper feed cassette 17 of one image forming unit 3a, and a plain paper recording medium is mounted on the paper feed cassette 17 of the other image forming unit 3b. An image forming unit that operates in accordance with the recording medium can be selected.

  That is, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a highly scalable system can be easily constructed.

  In the present embodiment, if one image forming unit 3a is used for color and the other image forming unit 3b is used for monochrome, one of the inkjet engines 5 is in a standby state according to the recorded image (monochrome or color). Since the unused head is in a standby state, it is not necessary to perform idle ejection, and wasteful ink consumption can be suppressed.

  The other image forming unit 3b is provided with fitting projections 35a and 35b, and the two image forming units 3a and 3b are connected by fitting into fitting recesses formed in one image forming unit 3a. Therefore, the image forming units 3a and 3b can be accurately positioned at the time of connection, the image forming units can be connected with high accuracy and workability is good.

  Other embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the following description, parts having the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the parts thereof are described. Detailed description will be omitted, and the following description will mainly focus on differences from the first embodiment described above.

  FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, instead of the paper feed cassette (recording medium storage unit) 17 in the first embodiment, each image forming unit 3a, 3b is provided with a recording sheet reversing unit 37. That is, a conveyance direction switching unit 39 is provided in the discharge conveyance path 9 of each of the image forming units 3a and 3b, and the switching unit 39 sends the recording medium S from the discharge conveyance path 9 to the recording paper reversing unit 37 for reversal. Thus, the ink is supplied from the discharge conveyance path 9 to the inkjet engine 5 to form an image on the back surface of the recording medium S, and then discharged from the discharge conveyance path 9.

  According to the second embodiment, the image forming units 3a and 3b can form images on both sides of the recording medium S, and the sheet cassette 17 is provided in the first embodiment described above. Similar effects can be achieved except for the effects.

  FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment. In the third embodiment, each of the image forming units 3a and 3b includes a discharge path 41 branched from the discharge conveyance path 9, and a discharge tray 43 (discharge receiving portion) that receives the recording medium S discharged from the discharge path 41. ) On the top. Note that a switching unit 45 is provided at a branch portion between the discharge conveyance path 9 and the discharge path 41. In the image forming unit 3a, the switching unit 45 is switched to discharge the sheet to the discharge tray 43 or to form the other image. Or can be supplied to the supply conveyance path 7 of the unit 3b.

  According to the third embodiment, since the recording medium S on which an image is formed in each of the image forming units 3a and 3b can be discharged to the paper discharge tray 43, it is easy to take out the recording medium after the image formation, and the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, the same function and effect can be obtained except for the function and effect of providing the paper feed cassette 17. Further, the recording medium S after image formation is selectively supplied to the connected image forming unit 3b or discharged to the discharge tray 43 of one image forming unit 3a without being supplied to the connected image forming unit 3b. It can be carried out.

  FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, a plurality of inkjet engines 5 are received in the conveyance direction of the recording medium S in the image forming apparatus main body 2, and each inkjet engine 5 forms an image from a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The apparatus main body 2 is detachably provided. Further, the discharge conveyance path 9 is provided with a discharge tray 49 (discharge receiving portion) on the side of the image forming apparatus main body on the discharge side. Each inkjet engine 5 is provided with an image registration adjustment sensor 47 on the inlet side of the recording medium.

  According to the fourth embodiment, the image registration sensor 47 is provided in each ink jet engine 5 so that the positional deviation between the ink jet engines 5 can be detected. When printing different colors, the leading edge position of the image is detected, and due to a skew on the recording paper conveyance path of each inkjet engine 5 or a deviation from the target dimension interval between the image forming units. Printing misalignment can be prevented.

  In the fourth embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the image forming units 3a and 3b are not connected, but the two inkjet engines 5 and 5 are provided in the traveling direction of the recording medium. In this respect, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be achieved.

  7 and 8 show a fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, each of the image forming units 3 a and 3 b is provided with ink supply passages 51 a to 51 d for supplying ink to the ink heads of the respective colors of the inkjet engine 5 and a waste ink passage 53. Further, each of the image forming units 3a and 3b includes an ink connector 55a to 55d that is in communication with the ink supply passages 51a to 51d of each color on the supply conveyance path carrying side end surface 31a and the discharge conveyance path side end face 31b. An ink connector 57 is provided, and the ink connectors 55a to 55d of one image forming unit 3a and the ink connectors 55a to 55d of the other image forming unit 3b are formed to have different diameters that fit male and female. Yes. Similarly, the waste ink connector 57 is male-female-fitted between the one image forming unit 3a and the other image forming unit 3b. The connectors 55a to 55d and 57 on the unconnected side are each sealed.

  Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, each of the other image forming units 3a and 3b is provided with a connection terminal 59 of an electric communication path on the supply conveyance path side end face 31a, and one image forming unit 3a has A connection terminal (not shown) that fits the connection terminal 59 and the male and female is also provided on the end face 31b of the discharge conveyance path.

  The other image forming unit 3b is provided with a waste ink tank 60 connected to the waste ink path 53, and can be used as a common waste ink tank 60 in one and the other image forming units 3a and 3b. Yes.

  According to the fifth embodiment, when one and the other image forming units 3a and 3b are connected, the ink paths 51a to 55d, the waste ink path 53, and the electric communication path can be connected to each other. Excellent route connection workability.

  The ink tank 11 and the waste ink tank 60 can be used in common by the two image forming units 3a and 3b, and one ink tank or one waste ink tank is replenished regardless of the number of connected image forming units 3a and 3b. It is easy to handle because it only needs to be replaced or maintained.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the ink tank 11 and the waste ink tank 60 may be provided in each of the image forming units 3a and 3b. Since each of the image forming units 3a and 3b includes the waste ink tank 60, the ink paths 51a to 51d and the waste ink path 53 are connected to or removed from the image forming units 3a and 3b. Therefore, it is possible to avoid technical problems (leakage and the like) of the ink paths 55a to 55d and 53 without the need for separation.

  Further, the waste ink tank 60 may be provided in the inkjet engine 5 as shown in FIG. When the ink jet engine 5 is detached from the image forming units 3a and 3b, it is not necessary to connect or disconnect the waste ink path 53, and technical problems (such as leakage) of the waste ink path 53 can be avoided.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the inkjet engine 5 may be a line-type inkjet recording type inkjet engine using an inkjet recording head corresponding to the width of the recording medium S. Since the line type ink jet is used, the recording paper can be conveyed and printed without intermittent driving, and the printing speed can be increased.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the plurality of inkjet engines 5 may be a monochrome inkjet engine and a color inkjet engine. By adding a color image forming unit to a monochrome image forming unit, a monochrome recording apparatus can be upgraded to a color recording apparatus. Also, according to the recorded image (monochrome, color), one of the inkjet engines can be kept in a standby state, and the unused head is in a standby state, so there is no need to perform idle ejection and wasteful ink consumption. Pressed.

  Each of the plurality of inkjet engines 5 may be an inkjet engine that discharges a single color ink among the colors constituting black and color. By connecting image forming units of basic colors such as black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, each inkjet engine 5 can perform printing at the maximum speed, and a highly productive recording apparatus can be provided.

  The plurality of inkjet engines 5 may be inkjet engines having different resolutions. Depending on the recorded image, one of the ink jet engines can be kept in a standby state, and an image forming unit can be added as necessary to improve the resolution.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming unit according to a first embodiment. It is a perspective view which extracts and shows an inkjet engine. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an image forming unit according to a fifth embodiment. It is a perspective view of the image forming unit which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the inkjet engine which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is a perspective view of the inkjet engine which concerns on the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image forming apparatus main body 3a One image forming unit 3b The other image forming unit 5 Inkjet engine 7 Supply conveyance path 9 Discharge conveyance path 11 Ink tank 13 Ink supply path 17 Paper feed cassette (recording medium storage unit)
31a, 31b Discharge conveyance path side end surface 35a Fitting part 35b Fitting part 37 Reversing part 47 Photoresist sensor (image registration adjustment sensor)
51a to 51d Ink supply path 53 Waste ink path 57 Waste ink connect 59 Connection terminal 60 Waste ink tank

Claims (20)

  An ink jet engine having an ink head for discharging ink, a supply transport path for transporting a recording medium to the ink jet engine, a discharge transport path for discharging an image-formed recording medium from the ink jet engine, and an ink path for supplying ink to the ink jet engine A plurality of image forming units are connected to each other in the traveling direction of the recording medium to connect one discharge conveyance path and the other supply conveyance path. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is detachably provided from a forming unit.   An image forming apparatus comprising a plurality of ink jet engines having ink heads for ejecting ink in a recording medium transport direction, wherein each ink jet engine is detachably provided on a main body of the image forming apparatus.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the image forming units includes a recording medium storage unit, and supplies the recording medium from the recording medium storage unit to the supply conveyance path.   Each of the image forming units includes a recording paper reversing unit, and reverses the recording medium discharged from the discharge conveyance path and supplies it to the inkjet engine from the discharge conveyance path to form an image on the back surface of the recording medium. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each image forming unit includes a discharge path branched from the discharge conveyance path and a discharge receiving unit that receives the recording medium discharged from the discharge path.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each inkjet engine includes an image registration adjustment sensor on an inlet side of the recording medium.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of inkjet engines are the same type of inkjet engine.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of inkjet engines are a monochrome inkjet engine and a color inkjet engine.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ink jet engines is an ink jet engine that discharges single color ink among black and color colors.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of inkjet engines are inkjet engines having different resolutions.   One image forming unit has a fitting portion on the end surface on the discharge conveyance path side, the other image forming unit has a fitting portion on the end surface on the supply conveyance path side, and one image forming unit and the other image forming unit are fitted. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning is performed by fitting the joint portion and the fitted portion.   One image forming unit has a telecommunication connector on the discharge conveyance path side end face, and the other image forming unit has a telecommunication connector on the supply conveyance path side end face. When the image forming unit is connected, the telecommunication connectors are fitted to each other. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is connected.   One image forming unit has an ink connector that communicates with the ink path on the end surface of the discharge conveyance path, and the other image formation unit has an ink connector that communicates with the ink path on the end surface of the supply conveyance path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatuses are connected together.   Each image forming unit has a waste ink path for transporting waste ink. One image forming unit is connected to the end face of the discharge transport path, and the other image forming unit is connected to the end face of the supply transport path. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image forming units are coupled, the waste ink connectors are fitted and connected to each other.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink path of each image forming unit is connected to a common ink tank, and the ink tank is used in common by a plurality of image forming units.   Each image forming unit has a waste ink path for transporting waste ink, and the waste ink path of each image forming unit is connected to a common waste ink tank, and the waste ink tank is shared by a plurality of image forming units. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is used.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each image forming unit includes an ink tank, and the ink tank is connected to an ink path.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each image forming unit includes a waste ink tank.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each ink jet engine is a line type ink jet engine using an ink jet recording head corresponding to a width of a recording medium.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each ink jet engine is a serial ink jet engine that scans an ink head in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a recording medium.

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