JP4134670B2 - Conveyor belt cleaning device and ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a conveyance belt cleaning device and an ink jet recording apparatus that can be applied to a printer, a fabric dyeing apparatus, and the like using an ink jet recording method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for conveying a recording medium such as an ink jet printer, a conveyance belt apparatus using an endless belt stretched by a driving roller and a driven roller is known.
[0003]
As a belt cleaning device for cleaning ink adhering to the conveyor belt, a method of absorbing ink by bringing an absorption roller wrapped with a nonwoven fabric into contact with a conveyor belt whose surface is covered with a fluororesin film, or a blade is used. A method of abutting is known.
[0004]
When using a recording medium with high ink permeability, such as a thin cloth, or when providing a print function for the entire surface of the recording medium that emits ink around the recording medium, the ink adheres to the conveyance belt. Then, there is a problem that the recording medium is stained when the next printing is performed. In order to solve this problem, there is a belt cleaning device that removes ink adhering to the conveyor belt and cleans the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt cleaning device employs a method of abutting an absorbing roller that absorbs ink or a method of abutting a blade formed of an elastic body such as rubber on the conveyor belt.
[0005]
In the belt cleaning mechanism of an ink jet recording apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-131618, a conveyance belt is formed in a concave portion on the printing surface side, and a cleaning roller is disposed in the concave portion to be brought into contact with the upper surface of the conveyance belt. Is.
[0006]
An ink jet recording apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-179953 has a blade that is detachably provided on an endless transport belt that holds and transports a recording medium. It has the 1st site | part which an ink tends to associate, and the 2nd site | part which an ink does not easily associate.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-131618 (Claims, paragraph number 0011)
[0008]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-179953 A (claims, paragraph number 00)
41-0043)
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In an ink jet recording apparatus, the amount of ink to be recorded per unit time has increased due to higher image quality and higher printing speed. In the contact method, cleaning to the extent that it is recognized that the recording medium is not soiled is impossible.
[0010]
When cleaning is performed by bringing an absorption roller or a blade into contact with the conveyor belt, a frictional force is generated due to the contact, and the frictional force varies depending on the contact state. As a result, the conveyor belt becomes uneven and breaks, the blades and the absorption roller wear, and there are disadvantages in that unevenness of conveyance occurs due to large load fluctuations during conveyance of the conveyor belt.
[0011]
The reason why the belt cleaning device is required is that the marginless printing is performed so that the ink protrudes from the width of the recording medium, or a thin recording medium that easily permeates the ink and adheres to the conveyance belt is used.
[0012]
Therefore, when printing under conditions other than these reasons, or when printing is paused, the conveyor belt does not need to be cleaned. Therefore, the blade or absorber roller is more likely to contact the conveyor belt when the blade or absorber roller is separated from the conveyor belt. Since wear due to contact can be reduced, durability is improved. Another advantage is that the occurrence of uneven conveyance can be suppressed.
[0013]
The present invention applies the belt cleaning means such as a blade and an absorption roller to the belt only when necessary, and does not perform printing when the recording medium in which the ink does not adhere to the conveying belt is used or the ink protrudes from the recording medium. In this case, an object of the present invention is to provide a belt cleaning device that improves the durability of the transport belt, reduces the replacement frequency of the cleaning device, and improves the belt transport accuracy by separating the belt cleaning device from the belt.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above-described problems are solved by the following conveyor belt cleaning apparatus and ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention.
[0015]
(1) an endless belt-like transport belt that holds and rotates a recording medium recorded by ink droplets ejected from an ink jet recording head, and a belt cleaning unit that removes ink adhering to the transport belt; Detection means for detecting the ink transmission density of the recording medium, width detection means for detecting a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and driving means for bringing the belt cleaning means into contact with and separating from the conveyance belt when have, the following conditions (1), characterized Rukoto is brought into contact with the conveyor belt the belt cleaning unit when printing in the condition that satisfies at least one, by the driving means (2) Conveyor belt cleaning device.
(1) When the width of the recording medium to be printed is narrower than the print width of the ink droplets ejected from the ink jet recording head based on the detection result of the width detecting means
(2) When the recording medium to be printed is a recording medium that transmits ink based on the detection result of the detecting means for detecting the ink transmission density.
(2) An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head driving unit; and the transport belt cleaning device according to (1).
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
[Conveyor belt cleaning device]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording medium transport mechanism of an ink jet recording apparatus.
[0019]
A recording medium (recording paper, fabric, etc.) 3 is conveyed while being held on the upper surface of a conveying belt 4 around which a plurality of pulleys 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D are wound, and is discharged from the inkjet recording head 1 at a recording unit. A recorded image is formed by the ink droplets 2 and conveyed along the conveying direction of the conveying belt 4. The recording medium 3 transported by the transport belt 4 is separated from the transport belt 4 at the curved surface portion of the pulley 5B, and is transported by a transport means (not shown). The spring-biased driven roller 5E presses the pulley 5A through the conveyor belt 4.
[0020]
Next, the cleaning device for the conveyor belt 4 of the present invention will be described. The cleaning device includes a cleaning blade (hereinafter referred to as a blade) 7 and a cleaning roller (hereinafter referred to as an absorption roller) 15.
[0021]
The ink 6 adhering to the conveyance belt 4 that conveys the recording medium 3 is wiped off by the blade 7 after passing through the pulley 5B. The wiped ink 6 is discharged from the discharge port on the bottom surface of the blade support member 9 through the absorber 8 accommodated in the blade support member 9 to which the blade 7 is fixed.
[0022]
The ink 6 remains even by wiping with the blade 7 due to a gap formed between the blade 7 and the conveying belt 4 and a hydroplane effect. The remaining ink 6 is absorbed by the absorbing roller 15 that is in contact with the blade 7 and the conveying belt 4 at the downstream side in the rotational direction of the conveying belt 4 from the contact position.
[0023]
In order to absorb all of the ink 6 adhering to the conveyor belt 4, the absorbing roller 15 is wetted by a cleaning liquid contained in a container (not shown), and the moisture content of the absorbing roller 15 is reduced to a certain level by the squeeze roller. It has become.
[0024]
Further, the absorbing roller 15 is rotated in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the conveying belt 4 by a driving source such as a motor (not shown) in order to increase sliding friction with the conveying belt 4 and increase the absorption efficiency. . The ink 6 absorbed by the absorption roller 15 is diffused into the cleaning liquid in the container.
[0025]
The first belt cleaning means comprising the blade 7, the absorber 8 and the blade support member 9 and the second belt cleaning means having the absorption roller 15 are used when printing is performed by a method in which the ink 6 of the transport belt 4 does not adhere. Can be separated from the conveyor belt. Further, in order to improve the deterioration of the cleaning function due to long-term use, the blade 7 and the absorbing roller 15 can be replaced with new ones.
[0026]
[Main components of the cleaning device]
Conveying belt 4: Endless belt blade with glass cloth coated with fluororesin 7: Polyurethane absorbent roller 15: Polyester non-woven fabric wound around a rotating shaft [ink]
The water-based ink is formed from the following colorant, solvent, additive and the like.
[0027]
As a colorant, a water-soluble dye or a water-dispersible pigment can be used.
Examples of the solvent for the water-based ink include water and various water-soluble organic solvents such as various alcohols and polyhydric alcohols.
[0028]
Examples of the water-based ink additive include a pH adjuster, an antifungal agent, a viscosity adjuster, a surface tension adjuster, a wetting agent, a surfactant, and an antirust agent.
[0029]
The water-based ink desirably has an appropriate surface tension in order to improve the wettability with respect to the recording medium 3.
[0030]
[Blade drive means]
A motor and drive transmission means (not shown) drive and rotate the pulley 5B, and rotate the conveyor belt 4 around which the pulley 5B is wound in the direction of the arrow shown.
[0031]
The blade 7 is fixed to the upper end portion of the blade support member 9. The base portion of the blade support member 9 is fixed to the rotary shaft 10 and supported so as to be swingable. The rotating shaft 10 is rotated by gears 11A and 11B that are rotated by a driving source (not shown).
[0032]
The blade support member 9 that supports the blade 7 and the absorber 8 is swung in the direction of arrow A by gears 11A and 11B rotated by a drive source, so that the tip of the blade 7 is separated from the surface of the conveyor belt 4. Can be separated. That is, when the conveyance belt 4 is set to be cleaned in the input unit of the ink jet recording apparatus, the blade support member 9 is swung by the driving source and the gears 11A and 11B so that the tip of the blade 7 is brought to the surface of the conveyance belt 4. Press contact. The tip of the blade 7 is pressed against the surface of the conveyor belt 4 in a counter state to clean the conveyor belt 4.
[0033]
When the blade 7 moves away from the surface of the conveyor belt 4 in the direction of arrow A, the surface of the blade 7 comes into contact with the blade cleaning roller 13 to clean the ink attached to the blade 7 and improve the belt cleaning performance.
[0034]
[Driving means for absorbing roller]
When cleaning of the conveyor belt 4 is set in the input unit of the ink jet recording apparatus, the cam 14A is rotated by driving of a driving unit (not shown), and the follower 14B pressed against the cam 14A is moved in the arrow B direction. The absorbing roller 15 fixed coaxially with the follower 14 </ b> B moves forward to press the absorbing roller 15 against the conveying belt 4.
[0035]
When the drive means is driven in reverse, the absorbing roller 15 moves backward and moves away from the pressure contact position of the conveyor belt 4.
[0036]
At the pressure contact position between the absorbing roller 15 and the conveying belt 4, the rotation direction of the absorbing roller 15 and the conveying direction of the conveying belt 4 are pressed against each other in a counter state to clean the conveying belt 4.
[0037]
The pulley 5C disposed between the pressure contact position of the blade 7 and the pressure contact position of the absorbing roller 15 presses the inner side of the conveying belt 4 to apply tension to the conveying belt 4, and causes the blade 7 and the absorbing roller 15 to move. The belt is securely brought into pressure contact with the conveyor belt 4.
[0038]
[Inkjet recording apparatus]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with the conveyor belt cleaning apparatus of the present invention.
[0039]
The carriage 16 accommodates the inkjet recording head 1, a head driver, a case, and the like, and is moved along the guide rail 18 in the main scanning direction indicated by X in the drawing along the guide rail 18 by a timing belt 17 that is rotated by driving of the motor M. It is reciprocated.
[0040]
The flexible cable 19 having flexibility is a printed wiring pattern including data signal lines, power supply lines, etc., and transfers image data, control signals, etc. between the carriage 16 and a control board (not shown). Follow the movement.
[0041]
The linear encoder 20 detects the movement position by an optical sensor provided on the carriage 16.
[0042]
The recording medium 3 transported by the transport belt 4 is transported in the sub-scanning direction of the movement direction indicated by the arrow Y in the figure.
[0043]
[Pressure contact and separation control of blade and absorption roller]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control and driving of the conveyor belt cleaning device, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the blade 7 and the absorbing roller 15.
[0044]
The pressure contact and separation of the blade 7 and the absorption roller 15 with respect to the conveying belt 4 are performed by a recording medium width detection sensor (hereinafter referred to as a width sensor) 21 disposed on a carriage 16 that reciprocates in the width direction of the recording medium 3, The blade 7 and the absorption roller 15 can be contacted and separated by the output signal of a transmission type optical sensor (ink transmission density sensor) 22 (see FIG. 2) comprising a light emitting part and a light receiving part for detecting the ink transmission density of the recording medium 3. The drive source to be moved to is driven.
[0045]
When the recording medium width a of the recording medium 3 detected by the width sensor 21 is narrower than the print width b of the ink droplet 2 ejected from the ink jet recording head 1 moving in the main scanning direction (a> b), or When the transmitted light from the light emitting part is detected by the light receiving part of the sensor 22 and the ink permeability of the recording medium 3 is high, the blade 7 and the absorbing roller 15 press the conveying belt 4.
[0046]
Note that, instead of the detection results of the width sensor 21 and the optical sensor 22, the user can set borderless printing or print the thin recording medium 3 that allows ink to pass through. It is also possible for the absorbing roller 15 to press the conveying belt 4.
[0047]
[Cloth dyeing device equipped with a conveyor belt cleaning device]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fabric dyeing apparatus provided with a conveyor belt cleaning device.
[0048]
A recording medium 3 such as a roll-like fabric held by the original winding unit 23 is conveyed by a conveying belt 4 disposed above the apparatus, and an image is formed by ink droplets 2 ejected from the inkjet recording head 1. . The recording medium 3 carrying the image is separated from the conveying belt 4, is U-turned in the accumulating unit 24, and is wound in a roll shape in the winding unit 25.
[0049]
The ink 6 attached to the conveying belt 4 that conveys the recording medium 3 is wiped off by the blade 7 and the absorbing roller 15.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
According to the conveying belt cleaning device of the present invention, the blade and the absorbing roller for removing the ink adhering to the conveying belt that conveys the recording medium are driven by the drive means based on the detection results of the ink transmission density sensor and the width sensor of the recording medium. The belt cleaning means is improved by improving the durability of the belt cleaning means by contacting the cleaning means consisting of a blade and an absorption roller only when it is necessary to clean the conveyor belt. The frequency can be reduced, and the occurrence of conveyance unevenness when ink does not adhere to the conveyance belt can be suppressed.
[0051]
Further, by cleaning the conveying belt with the blade cleaning roller, the ink cleaning performance of the conveying belt with the blade can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a recording medium transport mechanism of an ink jet recording apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus provided with a conveyor belt cleaning apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating control and driving of a conveyor belt cleaning device.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a blade and an absorption roller.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a fabric dyeing apparatus provided with a conveyor belt cleaning device.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Inkjet recording head 2 Ink droplet 3 Recording medium (recording paper, fabric, etc.)
4 Conveyor belt 6 Ink 7 Cleaning blade (blade)
8 Absorber 9 Blade support member 10 Rotating shaft 13 Blade cleaning roller 14A Cam 14B Follower 15 Cleaning roller (absorption roller)
16 Carriage 21 Recording medium width detection sensor (width sensor)
22 Optical sensor (ink transmission density sensor)
A, B, X, Y Movement direction

Claims (6)

An endless belt-like conveyance belt that holds and conveys a recording medium recorded by ink droplets ejected from an inkjet recording head; and
Belt cleaning means for removing ink adhering to the conveyor belt;
Detecting means for detecting the ink transmission density of the recording medium;
Width detecting means for detecting a width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium;
Driving means for bringing the belt cleaning means into contact with and separating from the conveyor belt;
Have
The following conditions (1), (2) when printing in the condition that satisfies at least one conveyor belt cleaning apparatus according to claim Rukoto is brought into contact with the belt cleaning unit to the conveyor belt by the drive means .
(1) When the width of the recording medium to be printed is narrower than the print width of the ink droplets ejected from the ink jet recording head based on the detection result of the width detecting means
(2) When the recording medium to be printed is a recording medium that transmits ink based on the detection result of the detecting means for detecting the ink transmission density The following conditions (1), the conveyor belt of claim 1, when printing in the condition that satisfies both, and wherein Rukoto the belt cleaning means is moved away from the conveyor belt by the drive means (2) Cleaning device.
(1) When the width of the recording medium to be printed is wider than the print width of the ink droplets ejected from the ink jet recording head based on the detection result of the width detecting means
(2) When the recording medium to be printed is a recording medium that does not transmit ink based on the detection result of the detecting means for detecting the ink transmission density The belt cleaning means comprises a plurality of belt cleaning means arranged in series in the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt, and the belt cleaning means is located upstream in the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt when being separated from the conveyance belt by the driving means. conveyor belt cleaning apparatus according to Rukoto is separated previously to the features and to claim 1 or 2. The conveyor belt cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the belt cleaning unit is cleaned when the belt cleaning unit separates from the conveyor belt . 5. The belt cleaning unit according to claim 1, wherein the belt cleaning unit includes a blade cleaning unit on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transport belt and an absorbing roller cleaning unit on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport belt. 2. A conveyor belt cleaning device according to 1. An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: an ink jet recording head driving unit; and the transport belt cleaning device according to claim 1.

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