JP2009249060A - Target supporting device, target conveying device and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

A target support apparatus capable of suppressing unevenness in drying of a target subjected to a recording process due to liquid adhesion while performing suction for ensuring the flatness of the target in the process of transporting the target, and the target Provided are a target transport device including a support device and a recording device including the target support device or the target transport device.
A suction hole 31 having a support surface 30a capable of supporting a recording paper P conveyed from the upstream side toward the downstream side and capable of generating a negative pressure when sucked on the support surface 30a. The platen 30 is provided with at least one suction hole 31 formed on the support surface 30a of the platen 30. When projected from the conveying direction of the recording paper P, the suction hole 31 is formed on the support surface 30a. It is formed so as to exist without any break across the entire region in the width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a target support device having a support surface capable of adsorbing a target subjected to a recording process during transport, a target transport device including the target support device, and a recording including the target support device or the target transport device. Relates to the device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of recording apparatuses, an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) that prints characters and images on a target by ejecting ink from a recording head is widely known (for example, Patent Document 1). ). The printer described in Patent Document 1 is provided with a platen (supporting member) for supporting a target and a recording head (recording unit) that ejects ink onto the target supported by the platen. . When the target is transported onto the platen from the upstream side of the platen, ink is ejected from the recording head to the target on the platen while the transport of the target is temporarily stopped.

  A plurality of suction holes are formed on the upper surface of the platen over the entire width direction of the target. The target is adsorbed on the platen by sucking the inside of these suction holes with a fan (suction means). As a result, the target has a flatness on the platen, and the ink ejected from the recording head is suitably landed on the target.

A plurality of heating means extending in the width direction of the target are disposed on the lower surface of the platen so as to contact the platen. The heat from the heating means is transmitted to the target on the platen through the platen, so that the ink that has landed on the target can be dried quickly.
JP 2006-150723 A

  By the way, in the printer described in Patent Document 1, the suction openings that form the circular shape of the suction holes are arranged in a square lattice pattern on the upper surface of the platen, and the suction includes a plurality of suction openings formed along the transport direction. A plurality of opening rows are formed at predetermined intervals in the width direction. Therefore, when the target passes through the upper surface of the platen, a specific area of the target repeatedly passes over the suction openings of each suction opening row, while the area sandwiched by the areas along the width direction is completely above the suction openings. It does not pass. For this reason, streaky high-temperature portions and low-temperature portions along the conveyance direction are generated in the target, and temperature unevenness occurs in the recording area of the target. As a result, there is a problem in that the degree of drying of the ink discharged to the recording area of the target varies and the print quality deteriorates.

  Even in a recording apparatus configured to naturally dry the target without providing a heating means for heating the platen, the ink is not dried in the region where the target is sucked by the suction holes while passing over the platen. Since it is promoted by the flow of air, there is a possibility that temperature unevenness may occur in the recording area of the target as described above. That is, between the region of the target that repeatedly passes over the suction openings of each suction opening row and the region that is sandwiched by this region along the width direction and does not pass over the suction openings at all, the ink discharged to the target Since a difference (drying unevenness) occurs in the degree of drying, there is a concern that the print quality may deteriorate.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to perform a recording process by adhering liquid while performing suction for ensuring the flatness of the target in the course of transporting the target. An object of the present invention is to provide a target support device capable of suppressing the occurrence of uneven drying of the target, a target transport device including the target support device, and a recording device including the target support device or the target transport device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the target support device of the present invention has a support surface capable of supporting a target conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side, and is negative when sucked onto the support surface. A support member having at least one suction opening of a suction hole capable of generating pressure, and the suction opening is formed on the support surface of the support member when projected from the transport direction of the target; It is formed so as to exist without any breaks over the entire region in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the target on the support surface.

  According to the above configuration, in the process in which the target passes over the support surface, the entire area of the target passes through the arrangement position of the suction opening at least once. Therefore, the occurrence of uneven drying of the target is suppressed as compared with the conventional case in which the target does not pass through the position where the suction opening is disposed in the target transport process. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven drying of the target while performing suction for ensuring the flatness of the target.

  Further, in the target support device of the present invention, a plurality of the suction openings are formed on the support surface, and a suction opening row along the direction intersecting the target transport direction is transported by the plurality of suction openings. A plurality of rows are formed in the direction.

  According to the above configuration, the entire region of the target repeatedly passes through the position where the suction opening is disposed in the process in which the target passes on the support surface. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven drying in the target recording processing area due to the difference in the degree of suction through the suction opening with respect to the target.

  Further, in the target support device of the present invention, each of the suction openings is formed to have the same shape as each other, and the distance between the adjacent suction openings in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the target Is the same length as the opening width of the suction openings, the suction opening rows are alternately arranged one by one, and the positions of the suction openings constituting the suction opening rows are perpendicular to the transport direction of the target Are shifted by a distance corresponding to the opening width of the suction opening.

  According to the above configuration, the suction openings are almost uniformly present on the support surface of the support member, so that the suction forces acting on the target through the suction openings are equal to each other. Therefore, the suction force can be applied almost uniformly over the entire area of the target, and the target can be stably adsorbed on the support surface of the support member.

  In the target support device of the present invention, when the support member divides the support surface equally in the width direction perpendicular to the target transport direction, the occupation ratio of the suction openings in each divided region is uniform. It is comprised so that.

  According to the above configuration, in the process in which the target is transported on the support surface of the support member, the time during which the suction force acts on the target through each suction opening is substantially uniform over the entire area of the target. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of drying unevenness in the recording processing area of the target due to a difference in the degree of suction through the suction opening with respect to the target.

Moreover, the target support device of the present invention further includes a heating means for heating the support member.
Normally, even if the target is heated by the heating means via the support member, the region on the suction opening in the target is not sufficiently heated because it does not contact the support member. For this reason, heating unevenness occurs in the target due to the difference in the frequency of passing over the suction opening. In this regard, according to the above configuration, since the entire region of the target passes over the suction opening at least once in the process of passing the target on the support surface, the occurrence of uneven heating on the target is suppressed. It is possible to heat and dry the target.

  Moreover, the target transport apparatus of the present invention includes the target support device having the above-described configuration, and a transport body that places the target interposed between the target and the support member, and the transport body includes the suction unit. The communication unit has a communication part that can communicate with the opening, and the communication part communicates with the suction opening so that the suction force from the suction hole reaches the target, whereby the target is adsorbed to the transport body.

  According to the above configuration, since the transport body that transports the target on the support surface of the support member is provided, the shape of the target is not limited to a long one, and for example, a fragmented target can be applied. It becomes. In addition, since the transport body has a communication portion that communicates with the suction hole of the support member, the target placed on the upper surface of the transport body when the suction force from the suction hole reaches the target through the communication portion. Can be reliably adsorbed to the carrier.

  The recording apparatus of the present invention further includes a recording unit that performs a recording process on the target supported on the support surface of the support member, and the target support device having the above configuration or the target transport device having the above configuration.

  According to the said structure, the effect similar to the said target support apparatus and the said target conveyance apparatus is acquired.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the recording apparatus of the present invention is embodied in an ink jet printer will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown in FIG. 1, an ink jet printer 11 as a recording apparatus includes a belt conveying device 12 as a target conveying device for conveying a recording paper P as a target. The belt conveying device 12 includes a driving roller 18 provided on the downstream side in the paper conveying direction, a driven roller 19 provided on the upstream side in the paper conveying direction, and slightly below a substantially intermediate position between the driving roller 18 and the driven roller 19. The tension roller 20 is provided. A conveyor belt 21 as an endless conveyor is wound around each of the rollers 18, 19, 20 so as to surround each of the rollers 18, 19, 20.

  A paper feeding unit 13 is provided on the upstream side (right side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the belt conveying device 12, and a gate roller 22 is provided between the paper feeding unit 13 and the belt conveying device 12. The recording sheets P stacked on the sheet feeding unit 13 are fed one by one by the sheet feeding roller 14 to the belt conveying device 12 via the gate roller 22. On the other hand, on the downstream side of the belt conveyance device 12 (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2), a paper discharge unit 15 serving as a paper discharge destination for discharging the printed recording paper P from the conveyance belt 21 is provided. . Accordingly, the printed recording sheets P are sequentially stacked on the paper discharge unit 15.

  A platen 30 as a support member having a rectangular box shape is in contact with the transport belt 21 at a position inside the transport belt 21 and between the driving roller 18 and the driven roller 19. Is provided. Therefore, the transport belt 21 slides on the support surface 30a when transporting the recording paper P placed on the upper surface thereof from the upstream side to the downstream side.

  Above the platen 30, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) long line head type recording heads 23 as recording means are arranged so as to face the support surface 30 a of the platen 30. Each recording head 23 extends in parallel with the width direction of the conveying belt 21 (direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording paper P), and is arranged in parallel along the conveying direction of the recording paper P. Each recording head 23 is connected to an ink cartridge 26 via an ink supply tube 27, and different types (colors) of ink are supplied from the corresponding ink cartridge 26 to the respective recording heads 23. Yes.

  A large number of nozzles (not shown) for ejecting ink supplied from the ink cartridge 26 are provided on the lower surface of each recording head 23. Then, printing (recording processing) of the recording paper P is performed by sequentially ejecting ink from each nozzle to the recording paper P at a timing in accordance with the transport speed of the recording paper P transported by the transport belt 21. It has become.

Next, the configuration of the platen 30 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the platen 30 is formed with a number of suction holes 31 penetrating the platen 30 in the vertical direction (thickness direction of the platen 30). Each suction hole 31 constitutes a suction opening on the support surface 30a of the platen 30, and has a long groove portion 31a that is long in the conveyance direction of the recording paper P, and a small hole portion that is continuously formed on the inner bottom surface of the long groove portion 31a. 31b. In addition, the small hole part 31b is located in the center part in the longitudinal direction of the long groove part 31a. Further, in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P, the width of the long groove portion 31a and the width of the small hole portion 31b are set to be substantially the same.

  A plurality of (four in this embodiment) suction hole arrays (suction opening arrays) 32 constituted by a plurality of suction holes 31 arranged along the front-rear direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, are arranged in the transport direction. They are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction that is the direction along. Each suction hole 31 is formed so that the long groove portions 31a (that is, the suction openings) have the same shape, and the distance of the gap 33 between the long groove portions 31a of the adjacent suction holes 31 in the front-rear direction is as follows. The suction hole 31 is formed to have the same length as the opening width in the front-rear direction of the long groove portion 31a.

  Each suction hole row 32 is alternately arranged one by one so that the position of the long groove portion 31a (that is, the suction opening) in each suction hole 31 constituting each suction hole row 32 is in the front and rear direction of the long groove portion 31a in the suction hole 31. The positions are shifted by a distance corresponding to the opening width in the direction. Due to the arrangement of the suction holes 31 described above, the suction opening formed by the long groove portion 31a of the suction hole 31 is projected on the support surface 30a on the support surface 30a of the platen 30 when projected from the left-right direction. It exists so that there is no cut over the entire area in the front-rear direction.

  In this case, when the support surface 30a is equally divided in the front-rear direction with the platen 30 excluding the portions where the suction holes 31 at both front and rear ends do not exist at all, the suction holes 31 (long lengths) in each divided region are divided. The occupying ratio of the grooves 31a) is configured to be uniform.

  In addition, an opening 30b that communicates the inside and outside of the platen 30 is provided at the center of the lower surface of the platen 30, and an induction fan 34 having a suction fan 34a is provided so as to close the opening 30b. . In the platen 30, a heater 36 as a rectangular plate-shaped heating means having a shape corresponding to the support surface 30 a in a plan view is provided so as to come into contact with the upper surface in the platen 30 from below. The heater 36 generates heat when a current is supplied from a power source (not shown), and heats the entire support surface 30a of the platen 30 almost uniformly. Therefore, the heat from the heater 36 is transmitted to the recording paper P via the platen 30 and the conveying belt 21.

  At positions corresponding to the respective suction holes 31 (small hole portions 31 b) of the platen 30 in the heater 36, through holes 37 that penetrate the heater 36 in the vertical direction are formed. In addition, at positions corresponding to the suction holes 31 (long groove portions 31 a) opened on the support surface 30 a of the platen 30 in the transport belt 21, communication holes 35 as communication portions that can communicate with the suction holes 31 are provided. Each is formed so as to penetrate the conveyor belt 21 vertically.

  When the suction fan 34a is rotated by driving the induction blower 34, the inside of the platen 30 is sucked through the opening 30b and negative pressure is generated in each through hole 37 and each suction hole 31. Due to the occurrence, the recording paper P is sucked to the platen 30 side. That is, when the suction force from each suction hole 31 reaches the recording paper P placed on the transport belt 21 through the communication holes 35, the recording paper P is attracted onto the transport belt 21.

Next, the operation of the ink jet printer 11 configured as described above will be described.
When printing the recording paper P, the drive fan 18 is driven and the conveyance belt 21 starts conveying the recording paper P while the induction blower 34 is driven and a current is supplied to the heater 36. When the recording paper P is transported onto the platen 30 by the transport belt 21, the suction force of the induction blower 34 is transported through the opening 30 b, the through holes 37, the suction holes 31, and the communication holes 35. It acts on the recording paper P placed on the recording medium 21, and the recording paper P is adsorbed onto the conveying belt 21.

  At this time, since the heat from the heater 36 is uniformly applied to the support surface 30 a of the platen 30, the heat from the heater 36 is transmitted from the support surface 30 a to the recording paper P through the conveyance belt 21. Then, the ink ejected from each nozzle (not shown) of each recording head 23 adheres to the recording paper P that has been warmed by the heat from the heater 36, whereby printing is performed on the recording paper P.

  Here, in the formation area of each suction hole 31 on the support surface 30 a of the platen 30, the support surface 30 a and the transport belt 21 do not contact each other, so that heat from the support surface 30 a is hardly transmitted to the transport belt 21. In addition, since each suction hole 31 sucks in ambient air, the conveying belt 21 is cooled in the reverse direction in the formation region of each suction hole 31 on the support surface 30a by the air flow at this time. On the other hand, in the non-formation area | region of each suction hole 31 on the support surface 30a, since the support surface 30a and the conveyance belt 21 contact, the conveyance belt 21 is heated.

  As a result, in the process in which the transport belt 21 slides on the support surface 30a, the greater the variation in the passage time of the formation region of each suction hole 31 on the support surface 30a in each region of the transport belt 21, the greater the Heating unevenness (temperature unevenness) increases, and a temperature difference generated between the areas of the recording paper P on the transport belt 21 also increases.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, when projected from the conveyance direction of the recording paper P, each suction hole 31 (long groove portion 31a) is the entire region in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper P on the support surface 30a of the platen 30. It exists without interruption. In addition, the platen 30 is configured such that when the support surface 30a is equally divided in the front-rear direction, the occupation ratio of the suction holes 31 in each divided area is uniform.

  For this reason, in the process in which the conveyor belt 21 slides on the support surface 30a of the platen 30, the frequency of passing through the formation area of the suction holes 31 in the entire area in the width direction (front-rear direction) of the conveyor belt 21 becomes uniform. In other words, the total time of non-contact with the support surface 30a of the platen 30 when the transport belt 21 passes through the suction hole 31 formation region is uniform in the entire region of the transport belt 21 in the width direction.

  As a result, since the same amount of heat is applied to the entire area of the conveyor belt 21 that slides on the support surface 30a of the platen 30, a substantially uniform temperature distribution is formed in the entire area of the conveyor belt 21. . For this reason, since heat is applied almost evenly to the recording paper P on the transport belt 21, the ink adhering to the recording paper P by printing is heated and dried substantially uniformly. The recording paper P that has been printed is discharged from the transport belt 21 to the paper discharge unit 15.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the above embodiment, in the process in which the recording paper P slides on the support surface 30a of the platen 30 via the transport belt 21, the entire area of the recording paper P is at least once the suction hole 31 (long groove portion 31a). It passes through the arrangement position. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven heating of the recording paper P as compared with the conventional case where the recording paper P has a region that does not pass through the position where the suction holes 31 are disposed in the process of transporting the recording paper P. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven drying of the recording paper P as compared with the conventional case while performing suction for ensuring the flatness of the recording paper P.

  (2) In the above embodiment, in the process in which the recording paper P slides on the support surface 30 a of the platen 30 via the conveyance belt 21, the entire area in the width direction of the recording paper P is the position where the suction holes 31 are disposed. Pass repeatedly. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of drying unevenness along the transport direction in the print area of the recording paper P due to the difference in the degree of suction through the suction holes 31 with respect to the recording paper P.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the long groove portions 31a of the respective suction holes 31 are formed to have the same shape, and the gap between the long groove portions 31a of the adjacent suction holes 31 in the width direction of the recording paper P. The distance 33 is the same as the opening width of the long groove portion 31 a of the suction hole 31. The suction hole rows 32 are alternately arranged one by one so that the positions of the long groove portions 31a of the suction holes 31 constituting the suction hole rows 32 are the long groove portions of the suction holes 31 in the width direction (front-rear direction) of the recording paper P. It is shifted by the same distance as the opening width of 31a. For this reason, the long groove portions 31a of the suction holes 31 are substantially uniformly present on the support surface 30a of the platen 30, so that the recording paper P is formed through the long groove portions 31a of the suction holes 31 and the communication holes 35. The acting suction forces are equal to each other. As a result, the suction force can be applied substantially uniformly over the entire area in the width direction of the recording paper P, and the recording paper P can be stably adsorbed onto the transport belt 21.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the platen 30 is configured so that the occupation ratio of the suction holes 31 in each divided region is uniform when the support surface 30a is equally divided in the front-rear direction. For this reason, in the process in which the recording paper P is transported on the support surface 30a of the platen 30 via the transport belt 21, the time during which the suction force acts on the recording paper P via the suction holes 31 and the communication holes 35 is The recording paper P is almost uniform over the entire area. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of uneven drying in the print area of the recording paper P due to the difference in the degree of suction through the suction holes 31 and the communication holes 35 with respect to the recording paper P.

  (5) Normally, even if the conveyor belt 21 is heated by the heater 36 via the platen 30, the regions facing the suction holes 31 in the conveyor belt 21 are not sufficiently heated because they do not contact the platen 30. For this reason, heating unevenness occurs in the conveyor belt 21 due to the difference in the frequency of passing over the suction holes 31. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, the entire region in the width direction of the transport belt 21 passes over the suction hole 31 for substantially the same time in the process in which the transport belt 21 slides on the support surface 30a of the platen 30. Heat is applied to the conveyor belt 21 almost uniformly. For this reason, since heat is applied almost evenly to the recording paper P on the conveyance belt, the recording paper P can be heated and dried while suppressing the occurrence of uneven heating on the recording paper P.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
As shown in FIG. 3A, another suction hole provided at a position corresponding to the gap 33 of the suction hole 31 constituting the suction hole array 32 at a position different from the suction hole array 32 in the transport direction. When the suction holes 31 constituting the rows 32 are arranged, the suction hole rows 32 may be alternately arranged in units of a plurality of rows (two rows in FIG. 3A). The suction hole rows 32 may be arranged irregularly.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, in the suction hole row 32, the distance of the gap 33 between the suction holes 31 adjacent in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction is a positive integer multiple of the opening width of the suction holes 31 (FIG. 3). It may be arranged so as to be (doubled in (b)). In this case, it is necessary to dispose a plurality of rows of suction hole rows 32 provided at positions corresponding to the gaps 33 in positions different from the suction hole row 32 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, a plurality of suction holes 31 arranged in a square lattice may be connected to each other in an arbitrary number of units (two units in FIG. 3C). In this case, when the suction holes 31 are projected along the transport direction, it is necessary to configure the suction holes 31 so as to exist without any break across the entire region in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (d), a suction opening 31 on the support surface 30a of the platen 30 is formed by a suction hole 31 having a single substantially rectangular spiral shape that opens without a break across the entire width direction orthogonal to the transport direction. It may be configured.

  In the above embodiment, the heating means for heating the platen 30 may be any heating means other than the heater 36 as long as it can transmit heat to the recording paper P via the platen 30. Good. For example, a flow path through which a fluid can flow is formed in the platen 30, and a warm fluid (for example, hot water or hot air) is supplied into the flow path, whereby heat is applied to the platen 30 and the recording paper P on the platen 30. You may make it tell. In this case, the heating means is constituted by the flow path and the warm fluid.

In the above embodiment, the heating means for heating the platen 30 may be omitted.
-In the said embodiment, you may apply elongate roll paper as a target. In this case, the conveyance belt 21 can be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the suction hole 31 may be formed to have an oblique shape inclined with respect to the support surface 30 a of the platen 30.
In the above embodiment, the recording apparatus is not limited to the ink jet printer 11. For example, the present invention can also be applied to printers of other printing styles such as a thermal transfer printer, a TA (Thermo Auto Chrome) printer, and a laser printer.

1 is a schematic front view of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a belt conveyance device in the printer according to the embodiment. (A)-(d) is a top view of the platen of another embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Inkjet printer as recording apparatus, 12 ... Belt conveying apparatus as target conveying apparatus, 21 ... Conveying belt as conveying body, 23 ... Recording head as recording means, 30 ... Platen as supporting member, 30a ... Supporting 31: suction hole, 31a: long groove part constituting suction opening, 33: gap, 35: communication hole as communication part, 36: heater as heating means, P: recording paper as target.

Claims (7)

At least one suction opening of a suction hole that has a support surface capable of supporting a target conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side and can generate a negative pressure when sucked is formed on the support surface. Provided with a supporting member,
On the support surface of the support member, when projected from the transport direction of the target, the suction opening is present without any break across the entire region in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the target on the support surface. The target support device is formed as described above. The target support device according to claim 1,
A plurality of the suction openings are formed on the support surface, and a plurality of suction opening rows along the direction intersecting the target transport direction are formed in the transport direction by the plurality of suction openings. A featured target support device. The target support device according to claim 2,
The suction openings are formed to have the same shape as each other, and the distance between the adjacent suction openings in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the target is the same as the opening width of the suction openings. Length,
The suction opening rows are alternately arranged one by one, and the positions of the suction openings constituting the suction opening rows are shifted by a distance corresponding to the opening width of the suction openings in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the target. A target support device. In the target support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The support member is configured such that, when the support surface is equally divided in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the target, the occupation ratio of the suction openings in each divided region is uniform. A featured target support device. In the target support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A target support apparatus further comprising a heating means for heating the support member. The target support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A carrier for placing the target interposed between the target and the support member;
The transport body has a communication portion capable of communicating with the suction opening,
The target conveying apparatus, wherein the communicating portion communicates with the suction opening and suction force from the suction hole reaches the target so that the target is adsorbed to the transport body. Recording means for performing a recording process on the target supported on the support surface of the support member;
A recording apparatus comprising the target support device according to claim 1 or the target transport device according to claim 6.

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