JP2010149318A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording apparatus which can efficiently dry the ink on a recording medium by a blowing head and can protect a recording head from the wind of the blowing head. <P>SOLUTION: The recording apparatus (1) includes the recording head 42 which performs recording by ejecting the ink to the recording medium (P), a carriage 41 which has the recording head 42 and moves in a width direction X with respect to a feed direction Y of the recording medium (P), the blowing heads (45, 46 (44)) which are aligned with the recording head 42 in the width direction X at the carriage 41 and send the wind to the recording medium (P), and wind shielding members (51, 52 (50)) which are set between the blowing heads (45, 46 (44)) and the recording head 42 at the carriage 41 having the front end side extended in a direction (Z) to approach the recording medium (P) and shield the wind from the blowing heads (45, 46 (44)) to the recording head 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a recording head that performs recording by discharging ink to a recording medium, a carriage that includes the recording head and moves in a width direction with respect to a feeding direction of the recording medium, and the recording in the carriage. The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that includes a head and a blower head that is provided side by side in the width direction and sends air to a recording medium.
In the present application, the recording apparatus includes types such as an ink jet printer, a wire dot printer, a laser printer, a line printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, a recording apparatus includes a carriage, a recording head, and a blowing unit.
FIG. 9 is a front view showing an example of a carriage of a recording apparatus in the prior art.
As shown in FIG. 9, the recording apparatus includes a carriage 100, a recording head 101, and air blowing ports 102 and 102 that are air blowing means. Among these, the carriage 100 is provided so as to be movable in the width direction of the paper 104. The recording head 101 is mounted on the carriage 100 and configured to eject ink onto the paper 104 supported by the platen 103 as the carriage 100 moves.

In addition, a pair of air outlets 102 and 102 are provided on both sides of the carriage 100 in the width direction of the recording head 101. And it was provided so that a wind could be blown with respect to the paper 104 at the time of recording. Therefore, the ink on the paper 104 supported by the platen 103 could be dried. In addition, the direction of the air outlets 102 and 102 is provided outward with respect to the recording head 101. Thereby, it was possible to reduce the influence of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 101 on the flight curve.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 64-11841

However, the air is blown at an inclined angle with respect to the paper 104 by directing the air outlets 102 and 102 outward. Accordingly, the drying efficiency is reduced.
On the other hand, when the direction of the air outlets 102 and 102 is made to face the paper 104 and the wind is applied perpendicularly to the paper 104, the wind also flows to the recording head 101 side, and the ink droplets discharged from the recording head 101 are discharged. Causes flying bends. Further, it causes the nozzle row of the recording head 101 to be dried. In such a case, ejection failure may occur due to a change in the viscosity of the ink in the nozzle, and in the worst case, the ink in the nozzle may solidify and the nozzle may become clogged.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is that the air on the recording medium can be efficiently dried by the blowing head and the recording head is protected from the wind of the blowing head. It is to provide a recording apparatus capable of performing the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a recording head that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium, and the recording head including the recording head. A carriage that moves in a width direction with respect to the direction, a plurality of blower heads that are provided on both sides of the recording head in the width direction of the recording head and that send air to the recording medium, and a width direction of the recording head in the carriage On both sides, a plurality of wind-shielding members that are provided between the blower head and the recording head and have a leading end extending in a direction approaching the recording medium and block wind from the blower head toward the recording head. And.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording apparatus includes the wind shielding member. Therefore, there is no possibility that the recording head is affected by the wind from the blower head. That is, there is no possibility that the nozzles of the recording head are dried by the wind.
Further, there is no possibility that the flight trajectory of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head and being in flight is bent by the wind of the air blowing head.

Still further, the blow head can be configured so that the air is blown substantially perpendicular to the recording medium. As a result, the ink that has landed on the recording medium can be efficiently dried.
In other words, the ink on the recording medium can be efficiently dried by the blowing head, and the recording head can be protected from the wind of the blowing head. Furthermore, there is no possibility that the flight of the ink droplets will be bent by the wind of the blowing head.

  Moreover, the said ventilation head is provided with two or more, and the said wind-shielding member is provided with two or more. Therefore, the ink ejected onto the recording medium can be efficiently dried even in a so-called two-way pass in which printing is performed both in the forward path and in the backward path when the carriage reciprocates in the width direction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the plurality of wind-shielding members are configured to be movable toward and away from the recording medium. A first position protruding toward the recording medium and approaching the recording medium; and a second position retracted toward the recording head in the direction of contact and separation compared to the first position; When the recording head is performing recording, the wind-shielding member on the front side of the carriage in the traveling direction from the recording head is at the first position, and after the recording head in the traveling direction of the carriage. The wind-shielding member on the side is the second position.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effect as the first aspect, when recording is being performed by the recording head, the wind-shielding member on the front side in the traveling direction of the carriage from the recording head is , The first position. Therefore, the recording head is not affected by the wind from the blowing head on the front side in the traveling direction of the carriage.
Further, the wind shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage from the recording head is the second position. Therefore, it is possible to make the tip of the wind shield member substantially the same position as the recording head in the direction of contact and separation of the wind shield member.

  Here, if the shielding plate on the rear side in the advancing direction is the protruding first position, the distance between the shielding plate on the rear side in the advancing direction and the recording medium is the recording head and the recording medium. It becomes narrower than the distance between. In this case, the velocity of the air flowing relative to the recording head from the front side in the traveling direction to the rear side increases rapidly in the vicinity of the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction. Further, the direction in which air flows in the vicinity of the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction changes greatly. For this reason, there is a possibility that so-called flight bending occurs in which ink droplets ejected from the recording head bend during flight.

Therefore, in this aspect, the wind shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction is retracted. Therefore, the difference between the distance between the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction and the recording medium and the distance between the recording head and the recording medium are calculated so that the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction projects. Compared to the case, it can be made smaller.
As a result, there is no possibility that the velocity of the air flowing relative to the recording head from the front side in the traveling direction to the rear side changes rapidly in the vicinity of the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction. In addition, there is no possibility that the direction of air flow changes greatly in the vicinity of the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction. Further, it is possible to reduce the flight bending of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head in the vicinity of the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction. That is, it is possible to eliminate the adverse effects caused by providing the shielding plate.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the plurality of wind shielding members are configured to be swingable in a direction in which a front end side of the wind shielding member is in contact with or separated from the adjacent air blowing head. A first posture in which the tip side of the wind shield member is separated from the adjacent blower head and approaches the recording medium, and the tip side of the wind shield member is adjacent to the first posture. A second posture that is close to the air blowing head and that is spaced apart from the recording medium, and when recording is being performed by the recording head, the wind-shielding in front of the carriage in the traveling direction from the recording head The posture of the member is the first posture in which the front end side of the wind-shielding member is separated from the blower head on the front side in the traveling direction and approaches the recording medium, and the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage from the recording head The position of the windshield member is The distal end side of the member approaches to the blowing head in the traveling direction rear side, and is characterized in that said second position spaced from the recording medium.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same function and effect as the first aspect, by swinging the wind shield member, the wind shield member approaches the recording medium, and the separated state. The posture is switched. Therefore, the switching between the approaching state and the separating state of the wind-shielding member with respect to the recording medium can be performed in a shorter time compared to the configuration of projecting / retracting movement of the second mode.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the second posture of the wind shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage is parallel to the recording medium.
Here, “parallel” may be substantially parallel. It is a concept that includes a range of variation in posture.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same functions and effects as those of the third aspect, the second posture of the wind shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage is parallel to the recording medium. is there. Accordingly, the distance between the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction and the recording medium can be made substantially the same as the distance between the recording head and the recording medium. Then, there is no possibility that the velocity of the air flowing relative to the recording head from the front side in the traveling direction to the rear side changes in the vicinity of the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the flying bend of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head in the vicinity of the shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording medium according to the third aspect, wherein the second posture of the wind-shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage approaches the recording medium as it advances toward the tip side. It is characterized by being inclined with respect to.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effects as those of the third aspect, the second posture of the wind shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage moves toward the leading end side as the recording medium. It is inclined with respect to the recording medium so as to approach. That is, the front end side is inclined rearward in the traveling direction. Therefore, the wind-shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction has no possibility of hindering the flight of the ink droplets ejected from the recording head. On the other hand, it is possible to appropriately block the wind that is about to flow from the blowing head on the rear side in the traveling direction to the recording head. As a result, there is no risk of flying bends in the ink droplets ejected from the recording head under the influence of the wind from the rear side in the traveling direction, and good recording can be executed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of an entire inkjet printer (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) 1 as an example of a “recording apparatus” or a “liquid ejecting apparatus” according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an outline of the entire printer according to the present invention.
Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus refers to an ink jet recording apparatus, a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like that performs recording on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head as a liquid ejecting head to a recording material such as recording paper. In addition to the recording apparatus, instead of ink, a liquid corresponding to a specific application is ejected from the liquid ejecting head corresponding to the recording head to the ejected material corresponding to the recording material, and the liquid is ejected to the ejected material. Used to include the device to be attached.

  Furthermore, as the liquid ejecting head, in addition to the recording head described above, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, an electrode material used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED). (Conductive paste) A jet head, a bio-organic matter jet head used for biochip manufacturing, a sample jet head for jetting a sample as a precision pipette, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 includes a feeding unit 10, a paper aligning unit 20, a preheating unit 30, a recording unit 40, a post heating unit 50, and a discharging unit 60. Among these, the feeding unit 10 includes a roller and a belt, and is configured to feed the paper P downstream in the feeding direction (in the direction of the arrow Y). Further, the paper aligning unit 20 includes a roller, a belt, and a guide unit (not shown) that contacts the side edge of the paper P. And it is comprised so that the paper P can be sent to the downstream of a feed direction, correct | amending the attitude | position of the fed paper P. FIG.

  In addition, the preheating unit 30 can send the paper P sent from the paper aligning unit 20 to the recording unit 40 on the downstream side in the feeding direction after preheating and heating the paper P before sending it to the recording unit 40. It is configured as follows. The reason why heat is applied in advance is to promote drying of ink that subsequently lands on the paper P. Specifically, the preheating unit 30 includes a suction belt mechanism 31 extended to the recording unit 40, a platen 54 as a paper support unit 32 at the time of preheating, and a heater 57 as preheating means 33 described later. is doing.

  Among these, the suction belt mechanism 31 includes three rollers 34, 34, 34 a, a belt 35 having a plurality of holes (not shown) wound around the three rollers 34, 34, 34 a, And a suction fan 58 as suction means for sucking air through the hole. The belt 34 is driven to feed the paper P by driving the roller 34a on the downstream side in the feeding direction. A preheating-time paper support portion 32 formed on the upper surface side of the suction belt mechanism 31 is provided so as to support the paper P from the back surface. The platen 54 as the paper support portion 32 at the time of preheating is provided with a heater 57 as the heat conduction type preheating means 33.

Here, the “heat conduction type” means a method of transferring heat from the high temperature part to the low temperature part through the inside of the object. That is, it is a system that conducts heat when an object comes into contact with the paper P.
For example, as an example of the heater 57 as the preheating means 33, there is a means using a nichrome wire. By energizing the nichrome wire, the nichrome wire itself generates heat, and heat can be conducted to the back surface of the paper P via the platen 54. Further, the suction fan 58 described above is configured to suck the air above the sheet support portion 32 during the preliminary heating downward through the plurality of holes of the belt 35.

Therefore, the suction fan 58 can adsorb the paper P on the paper support portion 32 during preheating exactly to the paper support portion 32 during preheating. As a result, the paper P can be heated.
Furthermore, the recording unit 40 is provided so that recording can be performed by discharging ink onto the surface of the paper P sent from the preheating unit 30. Specifically, the recording unit 40 includes a first suction belt mechanism 31 extended from the preheating unit 30, a platen 54 as a recording paper support unit 55, a carriage 41, a recording head 42, and drying during recording. Means 44, recording heating means 56, and wind shielding means 50 are provided.

Among these, the platen 54 is integrally formed to serve as both the recording paper support 55 and the preheating paper support 32.
Further, the platen 54 as the recording paper support portion 55 is formed on the upper surface side of the suction belt mechanism 31 so as to support the paper P from the back surface. Furthermore, the carriage 41 includes a recording head 42, a recording drying unit 44, and a wind shielding unit 50. Further, the carriage 41 is provided above the recording paper support portion 55 so as to be movable in the width direction X of the paper P. Specifically, it is configured to move by the power of a motor (not shown) while being guided by a guide shaft (not shown) extending in the width direction X.

The recording drying means 44 is provided so that the ink that has landed on the paper P by blowing air onto the paper P can be dried when the recording is performed by ejecting ink from the recording head 42. Yes. Specifically, the recording drying means 44 includes a first hot air head 45 and a second hot air head 46 that are convection type.
Here, the “convection type” means a method of transferring heat by a fluid such as gas or liquid.

  The first warm air head 45 is disposed on the first digit side (the upper side in FIG. 2) of the recording head 42 in the width direction X. On the other hand, the second hot air head 46 is disposed on the 80th digit side (lower side in FIG. 2) of the recording head 42 in the width direction X. Moreover, the 1st warm air head 45 and the 2nd warm air head 46 are comprised so that the warm wind can be blown out. The ink that has landed on the surface of the paper P can be dried by blowing warm air over the surface of the paper P.

  It is assumed that the internal structure of the hot air head 53 is composed of heat generating means such as nichrome wire and wind power generating means such as a fan.

  The wind shielding means 50 is provided so as to block the flow of the wind blown from the recording drying means 44 toward the recording head 42. That is, it is provided so that the blown wind can be prevented from flowing to the recording head 42 side. Specifically, the wind shield means 50 includes a first wind shield plate 51 and a second wind shield plate 52 as wind shield members. The first wind shielding plate 51 is disposed between the recording head 42 and the first warm air head 45. On the other hand, the second wind shielding plate 52 is disposed between the recording head 42 and the second warm air head 46. The operation and effect of the first wind shield plate 51 and the second wind shield plate 52 will be described in detail later.

The recorded paper P is sent to the discharge section 60 on the downstream side in the feed direction by the suction belt mechanism 31.
The discharge unit 60 includes a roller and a belt, and is configured to discharge the paper P to the downstream side in the feed direction.
Then, the structure of the 1st wind shield 51 and the 2nd wind shield 52 as the wind shield 50 is demonstrated.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the outline of the carriage according to the present invention as seen from the downstream side in the feed direction.
As shown in FIG. 3, the first wind shield 51 and the second wind shield 52 are swung around the rocking shafts 53 and 53 by a power source (not shown) in response to a command from a control unit (not shown). It is provided so that it can be done. Specifically, the wind-blocking posture (51, 52 indicated by a solid line) taken during wind-blocking and the leading ends of the first wind-shielding plate 51 and the second wind-shielding plate 52 move away from the paper P and move away from each other. And a retracted posture (51, 52 indicated by dotted lines) approaching the adjacent first hot air head 45 and second hot air head 46.

Of these, the wind-shielding posture is a posture in which the respective leading end sides of the first wind shielding plate 51 and the second wind shielding plate 52 extend from the recording head 42 side to the platen 54 side in the Z-axis direction.
Here, the Z-axis direction is a direction in which the recording head 42 and the platen 54 face each other.
On the other hand, the retracted posture is such that the first warm air head 45 and the second warm air head 45 are such that the leading end sides of the first wind shield plate 51 and the second wind shield plate 52 are outside the recording head 42 in the width direction X. It is a posture in a state of swinging to the 46 side.

That is, the front end sides of the first wind shield plate 51 and the second wind shield plate 52 are in a state of approaching the outlets 47 and 47 of the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46.
The power source can be a so-called actuator such as a motor or an electromagnet. Of course, the means for transmitting power can be constituted by a cam mechanism, a gear mechanism, or the like.

The direction of the outlet 47 of the first hot air head 45 and the direction of the outlet 47 of the second hot air head 46 are opposed to the paper P. In other words, the configuration allows the hot air to be applied to the paper P substantially vertically. Therefore, the ink on the paper P can be efficiently dried.
Furthermore, the 1st windshield 51 and the 2nd windshield 52 in this embodiment shall be formed in the heat insulating material. In addition to blocking the wind, the heat of the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46 can be prevented from being transmitted to the recording head 42.

Subsequently, operations and effects of the first wind shield plate 51 and the second wind shield plate 52 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing the operation of the first wind shield and the second wind shield when the carriage moves from the 80th digit side to the first digit side in the width direction.
As shown in FIG. 4, when the carriage 41 moves from the 80th digit side to the first digit side during recording, the control unit changes the posture of the first windshield plate 51 on the front side in the traveling direction to the windproof posture. On the other hand, the second wind shield 52 on the rear side in the traveling direction is set to the retracted posture.

  At this time, warm air is blown out from the outlets 47 and 47 of the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46. Since the first wind shielding plate 51 on the front side in the traveling direction is in the wind-shielding posture, the warm air blown from the first warm air head 45 is prevented from flowing to the recording head 42 on the rear side in the traveling direction. Can do. As a result, the in-flight ink droplets ejected from the recording head 42 toward the paper P are not affected by the warm air blown from the first warm air head 45. That is, there is no possibility that the first warm air head 45 on the front side in the traveling direction causes the so-called flight bending of the ink droplet.

  Further, the first wind shielding plate 51 can prevent the warm air blown from the first warm air head 45 from hitting the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42. As a result, the state of the nozzle row 43 can be stabilized and good recording can be executed. That is, there is no possibility that the warm air blown from the first warm air head 45 will destroy the meniscus of the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42 or dry the ink inside the nozzle row 43.

On the other hand, the second wind shield 52 on the rear side in the traveling direction is in the retracted posture.
Here, during the movement of the carriage 41, the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 42 onto the paper P not only have a velocity component in the direction approaching the paper P on the Z axis, but also a width that is the traveling direction of the carriage 41. It also has a velocity component in direction X. However, since the ink droplets are very small, they are easily affected by air resistance and easily decelerated.

For this reason, the ink droplets tend to flow to the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage 41 relative to the moving carriage 41.
Therefore, by setting the second wind shielding plate 52 on the rear side in the traveling direction to the retracted posture, the ink droplets in flight ejected from the recording head 42 to the paper P during the movement of the carriage 41 are second wind shielding. Collision with the plate 52 can be prevented. That is, the second wind shielding plate 52 has no possibility of hindering the flight of ink droplets. As a result, good recording can be performed.

  If the second wind shielding plate 52 on the rear side in the traveling direction is set to the wind shielding posture, the air in the space between the recording head 42 and the paper P is moved in the width direction X as the carriage 41 moves. When moving from the recording head 42 side to the second warm air head 46 side, there is a risk of disturbing the air flow. Specifically, in the space between the recording head 42 and the paper P, air flows at a uniform speed in the Z-axis direction from the recording head 42 side to the second hot air head 46 side. However, if the second wind shielding plate 52 on the rear side in the traveling direction is set to the wind shielding posture, the air flow path is narrowed in the Z-axis direction by the tip of the second wind shielding plate 52.

  Then, on the rear side in the traveling direction from the second wind shielding plate 52, the air flow path is expanded as it is in the Z-axis direction. In such a case, the air that has flowed relatively slowly in the space between the recording head 42 and the paper P suddenly becomes faster at the location where the flow path is narrowed by the tip of the second wind shielding plate 52. . And if it passes through the front-end | tip of the 2nd wind shield 52 and reaches the location where the flow path expanded, air will become a slow flow again. In particular, the change in the air velocity and the flow direction on the recording head 42 side are larger than those on the paper P side in the Z-axis direction. Then, a so-called turbulent flow is generated by the change in the speed and the direction, and there is a possibility that the flying bend of the ink droplet is generated.

Therefore, by setting the second wind shielding plate 52 on the rear side in the traveling direction to the retracted posture, the portion where the flow path is narrowed can be widened. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate a sudden change in the speed of the air and a change in the flow direction. As a result, there is no possibility that the flying bend of the ink droplets hardly occurs.
The warm air blown from the second warm air head 46 on the rear side in the traveling direction is less likely to flow from the second warm air head 46 to the front side in the traveling direction because the carriage 41 is moving. Therefore, even if the second wind shielding plate 52 on the rear side in the traveling direction is in the retracted posture, it may be considered that the influence of the warm air of the second warm air head 46 on the flying bend of the ink droplet is negligible. Further, the influence of the warm air of the second warm air head 46 on the meniscus of the nozzle array 43 of the recording head 42 and the influence on the ink inside the nozzle array 43 may be considered to be negligible.

  Even if there is an influence, the second warm air shield 52 is tilted in an attitude of 0 to 90 degrees (about 45 degrees in the present embodiment) with respect to the Z axis. The warm air from the head 46 can be appropriately blocked. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink droplets from being bent by the warm air of the second warm air head 46. Further, the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42 can be protected from the warm air of the second warm air head 46.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the operation of the first wind shield and the second wind shield when the carriage moves from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side in the width direction.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the carriage 41 moves from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side during recording, the control unit changes the posture of the first wind shielding plate 51 on the rear side in the traveling direction to the retracted posture. On the other hand, the second wind shielding plate 52 on the front side in the traveling direction is set to a wind shielding posture.

  At this time, similarly to the movement from the 80th digit side to the first digit side as described above, hot air is blown out from the outlets 47, 47 of the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46. Since the second wind shielding plate 52 on the front side in the traveling direction is in the wind shielding position, the warm air blown from the second warm air head 46 is prevented from flowing to the recording head 42 on the rear side in the traveling direction. Can do. As a result, the in-flight ink droplets ejected from the recording head 42 toward the paper P are not affected by the warm air blown from the second warm air head 46. That is, the second warm air head 46 on the front side in the traveling direction does not cause a so-called flight curve of ink droplets.

  Further, the second wind shielding plate 52 can prevent the warm air blown from the second warm air head 46 from hitting the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42. As a result, the state of the nozzle row 43 can be stabilized and good recording can be executed. That is, there is no possibility that the warm air blown from the second warm air head 46 will destroy the meniscus of the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42 or dry the ink inside the nozzle row 43.

On the other hand, the first wind shielding plate 51 on the rear side in the traveling direction is in the retracted posture.
Here, during the movement of the carriage 41, the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 42 onto the paper P not only have a velocity component in the direction approaching the paper P on the Z axis, but also a width that is the traveling direction of the carriage 41. It also has a velocity component in direction X. However, since the ink droplets are very small, they are easily affected by air resistance and easily decelerated.

For this reason, the ink droplets tend to flow to the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage 41 relative to the moving carriage 41.
Therefore, by setting the first wind shielding plate 51 on the rear side in the traveling direction to the retracted posture, the ink droplets in flight ejected from the recording head 42 to the paper P during the movement of the carriage 41 are the first wind shielding. Collision with the plate 51 can be prevented. That is, the second wind shielding plate 52 has no possibility of hindering the flight of ink droplets. As a result, good recording can be performed.

  Also, if the first wind shielding plate 51 on the rear side in the traveling direction is set to the wind shielding posture, the air in the space between the recording head 42 and the paper P is moved in the width direction X as the carriage 41 moves. When moving from the recording head 42 side to the first hot air head 45 side, the air flow may be disturbed. Specifically, in the space between the recording head 42 and the paper P, air flows at a uniform speed in the Z-axis direction from the recording head 42 side to the first hot air head 45 side. However, if the first wind shielding plate 51 on the rear side in the traveling direction is set to the wind shielding posture, the air flow path is narrowed in the Z-axis direction by the tip of the first wind shielding plate 51.

  Then, on the rear side in the traveling direction from the first wind shielding plate 51, the air flow path is expanded in the Z-axis direction as originally. In such a case, the air that has flowed relatively slowly in the space between the recording head 42 and the paper P suddenly becomes faster at the location where the flow path is narrowed by the tip of the first wind shielding plate 51. . And if it passes through the front-end | tip of the 1st wind shield 51 and reaches the location where the flow path expanded, air will become a slow flow again. In particular, the change in the air velocity and the flow direction on the recording head 42 side are larger than those on the paper P side in the Z-axis direction. Then, a so-called turbulent flow is generated by the change in the speed and the direction, and there is a possibility that the flying bend of the ink droplet is generated.

Therefore, by setting the first wind shielding plate 51 on the rear side in the traveling direction to the retracted posture, the portion where the flow path is narrowed can be widened. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate a sudden change in the speed of the air and a change in the flow direction. As a result, there is no possibility that the flying bend of the ink droplets hardly occurs.
The warm air blown from the first warm air head 45 on the rear side in the traveling direction is less likely to flow from the first warm air head 45 to the front side in the traveling direction because the carriage 41 is moving. Therefore, even if the first wind shielding plate 51 on the rear side in the traveling direction is in the retracted posture, it may be considered that the influence of the warm air of the first warm air head 45 on the flying bend of the ink droplet is negligible. Further, the influence of the warm air of the first warm air head 45 on the meniscus of the nozzle array 43 of the recording head 42 and the influence on the ink inside the nozzle array 43 may be considered to be negligible.

  Even if there is an influence, the first warm air shield 51 is tilted at a retracted posture of 0 to 90 degrees (about 45 degrees in the present embodiment) with respect to the Z axis. The warm air from the head 45 can be appropriately blocked. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ink droplets from being bent by the warm air of the first warm air head 45. Further, the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42 can be protected from the warm air of the first warm air head 45.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the operation of the first wind shield and the second wind shield when only the first warm air head and the second warm air head are operating when the carriage moves.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the carriage 41 moves, only the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46 can be operated without recording by the recording head 42. This is the case only for the purpose of drying after recording. Further, it is possible to remove impurities on the paper P before recording.

  In this case, it is possible to prevent the warm air from the first warm air head 45 and the warm air from the second warm air head 46 from flowing into the space where the recording head 42 and the paper P face each other. As a result, it is possible to prevent the state of the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42 from being changed by the hot air. Specifically, the nozzle row 43 can be prevented from drying. When recording is started again, there is no possibility of ink ejection failure due to the ink inside the nozzle row 43 being dried and clogged.

In the above-described embodiment, the case of the so-called two-way path in which recording is performed in both the forward path and the backward path when the carriage reciprocates in the width direction has been described. A one-way pass may be used. In this case, one hot air head is provided side by side with the recording head in the width direction, and one shielding plate is provided between the recording head and the hot air head. In this case, the warm air head may be in front of or behind the recording head.
Of course, the hot air head which is an example of the drying means at the time of recording may be a blow head which simply sends air.

  A printer 1 that is a recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a recording head 42 that performs recording by discharging ink onto a sheet P that is an example of a recording medium, and a recording head 42, and the feeding direction of the sheet P A carriage 41 that moves in the width direction X with respect to Y, and a first warm air head 45 and a second temperature air head that are provided in the carriage 41 in parallel with the recording head 42 in the width direction X and send air to the paper P. The first warm air is provided between the wind head 46, the first warm air head 45 and the second warm air head 46 in the carriage 41, and the recording head 42. The leading end extends in a direction approaching the paper P. A first wind shielding plate 51 and a second wind shielding plate 52, which are wind shielding members that block wind from the head 45 and the second warm air head 46 to the recording head 42 side, are provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of air blowing heads are provided, that is, the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46, and the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46 are provided on both sides in the width direction of the recording head 42. A plurality of first wind shields 51 and second wind shields 52 are provided, and the first wind shields 51 and the second wind shields 52 are provided on both sides of the recording head 42 in the width direction. The first hot air head 45 and the recording head 42 and the second hot air head 46 and the recording head 42 are disposed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the first wind shield plate 51 and the second wind shield plate 52 are arranged so that the first wind shield plate 51 and the second wind shield plate 52 are adjacent to the adjacent first hot air head 45 and second hot air head 46. The wind plate 52 is configured to be swingable in a direction in which the front end side of the wind plate 52 contacts and separates, and the first warm air head 45 (second warm air head 52) adjacent to the front end side of the first wind shield plate 51 (second wind shield plate 52). The first wind shielding plate 51 (the second wind shielding plate 52) is separated from the wind head 46) and compared with the wind blocking posture, which is the first posture approaching the paper P. The leading end side approaches the adjacent first warm air head 45 (second warm air head 46) and has a second retracted posture which is a second posture separated from the paper P.

  Further, when recording is being performed by the recording head 42, a windshield plate on the front side in the direction of travel of the carriage 41 from the recording head 42 (for example, as shown in FIG. The orientation of the wind shield 52) is such that the tip side of the wind shield (the second wind shield 52 when moving from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side) is the front head in the traveling direction (from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side). Is moved from the second blower head 46) and is in the wind-blocking posture, which is a posture approaching the paper P.

  In addition, the orientation of the wind shield plate (the first wind shield plate 51 when moving from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side) on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage 41 from the recording head 42 is the same as that of the windshield plate (1 digit digit). When moving from the side to the 80th digit side, the front end side of the first wind shielding plate 51) approaches the blowing head on the rear side in the traveling direction (when moving from the first digit side to the 80th digit side, the first hot air head 45) In addition, it is configured to have a retracted posture that is a posture separated from the paper P.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the retracted posture of the windshield plate on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage 41 (the first windshield plate 51 when moving from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side) progresses toward the tip side. It is characterized in that it is inclined with respect to the paper P so as to approach the paper P (about 45 degrees in the above embodiment).

[Other embodiment 1]
FIGS. 7A and 7B are front views showing a windshield plate of a carriage according to another embodiment 1. FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the carriage 70 according to the other embodiment 1 includes a first wind shield 71 and a second wind shield 72.
Since other members not particularly described are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are used and description thereof is omitted.

  The first wind shield 71 and the second wind shield 72 of the other embodiment 1 are provided so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction by an actuator (not shown) according to an instruction from a control unit (not shown). And it has the position at the time of a wind shield, and the position at the time of a retreat similarly to the attitude | position at the time of the wind shield of the embodiment mentioned above, and the attitude | position at the time of retraction.

  Here, the “wind shielding position” is a position where the tips of the wind shielding plates 71 and 72 protrude from the recording head 42 toward the paper side and is as close to the paper P as possible. On the other hand, the “retracted position” is a position retracted to the recording head side from the “wind-shielded position” in the contact / separation movement direction Z of the windshield plates 71 and 72. In the embodiment, the presence / absence of the wind shielding plate is switched, and the tips of the wind shielding plates 71 and 72 are located at the same position as the formation surface of the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42, but is not limited thereto. It only needs to be retracted from the “wind shield position” to the recording head side, and may slightly protrude from the recording head 42.

  FIG. 7A shows the first wind shield 71 and the second wind shield 72 when only the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46 are operated when the carriage 70 moves. It is a front view which shows operation | movement. In this case, the first wind shielding plate 71 and the second wind shielding plate 72 are in the state of the wind shielding position. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment. Specifically, the nozzle row 43 can be prevented from drying.

7B is a front view showing the operation of the first wind shield 71 and the second wind shield 72 when the carriage 70 moves from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side in the width direction X. It is. At this time, the first wind shield 71 is in the retracted position, and the second wind shield 72 is in the wind shield position.
Needless to say, when the carriage 70 moves from the 80th digit side to the 1st digit side in the width direction X, the second windshield plate 72 is in the retracted position and the first windshield plate 71 is in the windshielded position. Yes.
Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment. The description is omitted.

  In another embodiment 1, the first wind shield 71 and the second wind shield 72 are configured to be able to move toward and away from the paper P, and the paper from the recording head 42 in the direction Z of the contact and separation. And a second position retracted to the recording head side in the direction of contact / separation movement Z as compared to the wind-shielding position, and a first wind-shielding position that is the first position approaching the sheet P And a certain retracted position.

  Further, when recording is being performed by the recording head 42, the wind shield plate on the front side in the traveling direction of the carriage 70 from the recording head 42 (for example, when moving from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side as shown in FIG. 7B). The second wind shield 72) takes the wind shield position, and the wind shield on the rear side of the carriage 70 in the traveling direction from the recording head 42 (when moving from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side, the first windshield plate). 71) is characterized in that it takes a retracted position.

[Other embodiment 2]
FIGS. 8A and 8B are front views showing a windshield plate of a carriage according to another embodiment 2. FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a carriage 80 according to another embodiment 2 includes a first wind shield plate 81 and a second wind shield plate 82.
Since other members not particularly described are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are used and description thereof is omitted.

  The first wind shield plate 81 and the second wind shield plate 82 of the other embodiment 2 are provided so as to be swingable around the swing shafts 53 and 53 by an actuator (not shown) by an instruction from a control unit (not shown). It has been. And like the embodiment mentioned above, it has the attitude | position at the time of a windshield, and the attitude | position at the time of retraction | saving. Since the posture at the time of wind shielding and the posture at the time of retraction are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, only different points will be described below, and description of the same points will be omitted.

  FIG. 8A shows the first wind shield 81 and the second wind shield 82 when only the first hot air head 45 and the second hot air head 46 are operated when the carriage 80 moves. It is a front view which shows operation | movement. In such a case, the first wind shield plate 81 and the second wind shield plate 82 are in the state of the wind shield posture. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment. Specifically, the nozzle row 43 can be prevented from drying.

8B is a front view showing the operation of the first wind shielding plate 81 and the second wind shielding plate 82 when the carriage 80 moves from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side in the width direction X. It is. At this time, the first wind shield 81 is in the retracted posture and the second wind shield 82 is in the wind blocked posture.
In another embodiment 2, the retracted posture is the same plane as the surface on which the nozzle row 43 of the recording head 42 is formed, and is parallel to the paper P on the platen 54.

Therefore, as the carriage 80 moves from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side, the air flow path in the Z-axis direction when the air between the recording head 42 and the paper P passes through the first wind shielding plate 81. Can be made substantially constant. As a result, it is possible to eliminate changes in the air velocity and flow direction. Accordingly, the flight of ink droplets can be stabilized and good recording can be performed.
Needless to say, it is possible to prevent contact between the ink droplets in flight and the first wind shielding plate 81 on the rear side in the traveling direction.
In addition, when the carriage 80 moves from the 80th digit side to the 1st digit side in the width direction X, it goes without saying that the second wind shield plate 82 is in the retracted posture and the first wind shield plate 81 is in the wind shield posture. Yes.
In another embodiment 2, the wind shielding plate on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage 80 (for example, the first wind shielding plate 81 when moving from the 1st digit side to the 80th digit side as shown in FIG. 8B) is retracted. The time posture is characterized by being parallel to the paper P.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the outline of the entire printer according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the outline of the entire printer according to the invention. 1 is a front view showing an outline of a carriage according to the present invention. The front view which shows operation | movement of the windshield which concerns on this invention (when moving to the 1-digit side). The front view which shows operation | movement of the windshield which concerns on this invention (when moving to the 80-digit side). The front view which shows the operation | movement of the windshield which concerns on this invention (only when a warm air head is working). (A) (B) is a front view which shows the wind shield of the carriage of other Embodiment 1. FIG. (A) (B) is a front view which shows the wind shield of the carriage of other Embodiment 2. FIG. The schematic front view which shows the carriage in a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1 printer (recording device), 10 feeding unit, 20 paper alignment unit, 30 preheating unit,
31 Suction belt mechanism, 32 Pre-heating paper support, 33 Pre-heating means,
34 roller, 34a roller, 35 belt, 40 recording unit, 41 carriage,
42 recording head, 43 nozzle row, 44 drying means during recording, 45 first hot air head,
46 second warm air head, 47 outlet, 50 wind shield means, 51 first wind shield,
52 second windshield, 53 swing shaft, 54 platen, 55 paper support for recording,
56 Recording heating means, 57 heater, 58 suction fan, 60 discharge section,
70 (other embodiment 1) carriage, 71 first wind shield, 72 second wind shield,
80 (of other embodiment 2) carriage, 81 first wind shield, 82 second wind shield,
100 prior art carriage, 101 recording head, 102 air outlet,
103 platen, 104 paper, P paper, X width direction, Y feed direction,
Z Direction in which recording head and platen face each other

Claims (5)

A recording head that performs recording by discharging ink to a recording medium;
A carriage having the recording head and moving in a width direction with respect to a recording medium feeding direction;
A plurality of blower heads that are provided on both sides of the recording head in the width direction of the carriage and send air to the recording medium;
Provided between the recording head and the blowing head on both sides of the recording head in the width direction of the carriage, the leading end side extends in a direction approaching the recording medium, and from the blowing head to the recording head side And a plurality of wind shielding members that block the wind. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wind shielding members are configured to be movable toward and away from a recording medium,
A first position that protrudes toward the recording medium from the recording head in the direction of contact and separation, and is close to the recording medium;
A second position retracted toward the recording head in the direction of contact / separation movement compared to the first position;
When recording is being performed by the recording head,
The wind-shielding member on the front side in the traveling direction of the carriage from the recording head is the first position,
The recording apparatus, wherein the wind-shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage from the recording head is the second position. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of wind shielding members are configured to be swingable in a direction in which a front end side of the wind shielding member is in contact with or separated from the adjacent air blowing head,
A first posture in which the front end side of the wind-shielding member is separated from the adjacent blower head and approaches the recording medium;
A second posture in which the front end side of the wind-shielding member approaches the adjacent blower head and is separated from the recording medium as compared with the first posture;
When recording is being performed by the recording head,
The posture of the wind shielding member on the front side in the traveling direction of the carriage from the recording head is the first posture in which the front end side of the wind shielding member is separated from the blowing head on the front side in the traveling direction and approaches the recording medium. Yes,
The posture of the wind shield member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage from the recording head is such that the tip side of the wind shield member approaches the blower head on the rear side in the traveling direction and is separated from the recording medium. Recording device that is posture.   4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second posture of the wind shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage is parallel to the recording medium.   4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second posture of the wind shielding member on the rear side in the traveling direction of the carriage is inclined with respect to the recording medium so as to approach the recording medium as it advances toward the leading end side. Recording device.

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