JP5042797B2 - Image forming apparatus and cleaning method for cleaning blade - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a cleaning method for a cleaning blade, and is particularly suitable for maintaining / recovering the cleaning performance of a blade for cleaning an intermediate transfer member (belt, drum, etc.) in an intermediate transfer type ink jet recording apparatus. It relates to cleaning technology.

  It is widely known to use a cleaning blade (sometimes simply referred to as a “blade”) as a cleaning means for ink or other treatment liquid adhering to an intermediate transfer member of an ink jet recording apparatus or a recording paper conveyance belt. However, if cleaning debris adheres to the blade, the cleaning performance deteriorates and image disturbance and transfer failure occur. Conventionally, blade contamination is regularly removed by various methods in order to deal with such problems (Patent Documents 1 to 4).

  Patent Document 1 employs a configuration in which a blade is moved in a direction perpendicular to the belt conveyance direction to clean the conveyance belt, and an absorption member (sponge or the like) is provided at one end in the width direction of the conveyance belt. A method of removing ink (attachment) attached to the blade by moving the blade with an absorbing member is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, a plurality of blades are attached to the circumferential surface of the rotating body, and the ink on the belt is scraped while rotating in the reverse direction to the rotation of the conveying belt, and the tip of the blade that is not in contact with the belt is wiped with an ink absorber The structure which removes a blade deposit | attachment by sliding-contacting to a member is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 3, after the printing is completed, the rubber blade is retracted from the conveyance belt, and the conveyance belt reversely rotates to carry the liquid (dirt residue) collected on the belt contact surface of the blade to the upstream side by the conveyance belt. The structure which wipes off with the web used for cleaning liquid application is disclosed.

Patent Document 4 has a structure in which a blade is attached to the peripheral surface of a rotating shaft, and an ink absorber is disposed on the trajectory of the blade and below the conveying belt. After printing, the blade is rotated and separated from the belt. In addition, a configuration is disclosed in which ink adhering to the blade is removed by bringing the blade tip into contact with the ink absorber at the rotation destination.
JP 2006-206279 A JP 2006-256840 A JP 2006-264893 A JP 2007-76863 A

  In recent years, the image quality of ink jet printers has been improved, and in the field of commercial printing, in particular, high resolution has been devised by applying various processing liquids and powders as a color material aggregation reaction agent to the intermediate transfer member. For this reason, not only ink residue but also a large amount of color material aggregating reaction agent has adhered to the cleaning blade, and it has become necessary to clean the blade frequently (for example, once every 10 prints).

  However, since the technique of Patent Document 1 is a mechanism that scrapes the purge ink of the recording head by moving a short blade in a direction perpendicular to the belt conveyance, it cannot be used structurally when the processing liquid attached to the entire belt surface is always cleaned.

  In Patent Documents 2 and 4, the ink residue adhering to the blade is wiped off with a web material. If the amount of residue is large, the web material must be frequently replaced, and printing must be interrupted during that time.

  In addition, the techniques described in Patent Documents 3 and 4 require different control from that during normal printing, and this is not a problem for each print job or several times a day. It works greatly on sex.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and while performing a normal recording operation, it is possible to effectively remove blade deposits (cleaning residue) without reducing productivity, and replenishment of consumable parts for cleaning. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus and a cleaning method for cleaning a blade that can maintain stable cleaning performance without requiring replacement and without stopping the apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention forms a primary image by a head for ejecting ink and ink ejected from the head, and is wound around three or more rollers. An intermediate transfer member, a transfer unit that transfers the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined transfer direction, a transfer unit that transfers and records a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium, and the transfer of the transfer unit. A downstream side in the transport direction of the means, an upstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the head, and disposed at a position where at least one of the rollers is disposed between the head and the intermediate after the transfer recording A cleaning blade that cleans an image forming surface on which a primary image of the transfer body is formed. The intermediate transfer body is transported by the transport means while the intermediate transfer body is transported. Contacting the ring blade have a structure for removing cleaning debris adhering to the cleaning blade, the structure for removing the cleaning Kas, over the length of the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member of the cleaning blade It is characterized in that at least one structure is provided among the provided through hole, concave hole, concave groove and convex step .

  According to the present invention, the intermediate transfer member on which the primary image is formed is provided with the blade cleaning area in which the structure for removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade is provided. The cleaning blade is reliably cleaned each time it passes. In addition, the structure is simple and inexpensive, and can be said to be a structure that does not easily fail.

  Furthermore, since the intermediate transfer member and the cleaning blade are cleaned without interrupting normal image formation (image recording), productivity is not reduced.

  As the intermediate transfer member, an endless belt member wound around a plurality of stretching rollers may be applied, or a drum-shaped member may be applied.

  The blade cleaning area (structure for removing cleaning residue, uneven structure) only needs to be provided in at least one location of the intermediate transfer member. Further, it is preferable to provide a non-drawing area between the blade cleaning area and the drawing area. That is, it is preferable that the drawing area, the non-drawing area, and the blade cleaning area are arranged in this order from the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. In the aspect including a plurality of blade cleaning regions, the drawing region, the non-drawing region, the blade cleaning region, the non-drawing region, the drawing region, the non-drawing region, the blade cleaning region,... Is preferred.

  The ink may be ejected from the head after a treatment liquid that aggregates (or insolubilizes) the ink when reacted with the ink is applied to the intermediate transfer member. That is, a configuration in which a processing liquid applying unit is provided on the upstream side of the head in the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member is also possible.

  The transfer means includes a temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the recording medium and the primary image (intermediate transfer body) during transfer to a predetermined transfer temperature, and a pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure applied to the recording medium and the intermediate transfer body. The aspect containing these is preferable. For example, a pair of rollers facing each other with an intermediate transfer member interposed therebetween, one roller including a temperature control means such as a heater, the other roller is configured to be movable, and the other roller is moved so as to be intermediate between the recording medium and the recording medium. The pressure applied to the transfer body is adjusted.

Further , according to the present invention, the structure for removing at least one of the cleaning wastes from among the through holes, the concave holes, the concave grooves, and the convex steps is formed in the blade cleaning region. And the cleaning blade can be brought into contact with each other to reliably remove cleaning waste such as ink adhering to the cleaning blade.

  The structure for removing the cleaning residue is preferably an embodiment in which a plurality of irregularities having different shapes (sizes) are arranged in the blade cleaning region over the entire area. In addition, it is preferable that the total volume of the through hole, the recessed hole, and the recessed groove is at least twice the total volume of the cleaning waste removed from the cleaning blade.

A second aspect of the invention relates to an aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, and the cleaning residue collected in a structure for removing the cleaning residue downstream of the cleaning blade in the conveyance direction of the conveyance unit. A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the waste is provided. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head for ejecting ink, an intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head, and the intermediate transfer body in a predetermined transport direction. A conveying means for conveying, a transferring means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and an image forming surface on which the primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed is cleaned. A cleaning blade, and the intermediate transfer member is provided with a structure for removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while conveying the intermediate transfer member. The structure for removing the cleaning residue is a through-hole, a recessed hole, a recessed hole provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member. And at least any one structure of the projected step is provided in the downstream side of the transport means of the cleaning blade, comprising a cleaning debris recovery means for recovering the cleaning debris collected in the construction of removing said cleaning Kas It is characterized by that.

According to the second and third aspects of the invention, the cleaning waste removed from the cleaning blade is collected by the cleaning waste collecting means provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveying means of the cleaning blade. When cleaning the cleaning blade, the blade cleaning region is always cleaned, and the cleaning residue is prevented from reattaching to the cleaning blade from the blade cleaning region.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein when the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade is removed, the image formation by the cleaning blade is performed. An angle changing means is provided for changing the angle of the cleaning blade with respect to the image forming surface so that the angle between the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller than that during surface cleaning. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head for ejecting ink, an intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head, and transporting the intermediate transfer body in a predetermined transport direction. A transfer means for transferring, a transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and an image forming surface on which the primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed is cleaned. comprising a cleaning blade, wherein the intermediate transfer member, the structure for removing the cleaning debris said while the intermediate transfer body is conveyed by contacting the cleaning blade to the image forming surface adhered to the cleaning blade is provided, wherein The structure for removing the cleaning residue is a through hole, a concave hole, or a concave groove provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member. At least any one structure of the fine convex step is provided, upon removal of the cleaning debris adhering to the cleaning blade, than during cleaning of the imaging surface by the cleaning blade, said cleaning blade and the image forming surface An angle changing means for changing the angle of the cleaning blade with respect to the image forming surface is provided.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, the cleaning residue attached to the cleaning blade can be easily removed by laying the cleaning blade when cleaning the cleaning blade. On the other hand, when the intermediate transfer member is cleaned, the cleaning blade is raised to easily remove the cleaning residue adhering to the intermediate transfer member.

  The angle at which the cleaning blade is inclined may be horizontal (the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member and the cleaning blade are substantially parallel), or the tip of the cleaning blade is positioned above the horizontal surface of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member. It may be within horizontal.

The invention according to claim 6 relates to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, a position detecting means for detecting the position of the structure to remove the cleaning debris on the conveying path of the intermediate transfer body wherein the angle changing means, a feature that on the basis of the detection result of said position detecting means, tilting the cleaning blade in accordance with the timing at which the structure of removing the cleaning debris is located in the cleaning area by the cleaning blade To do.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning of the intermediate transfer member and the cleaning blade are preferably performed by changing the angle of the cleaning blade in accordance with the structure for removing the cleaning residue and the timing at which the drawing region comes to the position of the cleaning blade. Cleaning is performed.

The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 is an intermediate transfer in which a primary image is formed by a head for ejecting ink and ink ejected from the head, and is wound around three or more rollers. A transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and transfer of the transfer means by the transfer means. The intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is located downstream of the head, upstream of the transport means of the transport means of the head, and disposed at a position where at least one of the rollers is disposed between the head and the head. A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image is formed, and the intermediate transfer member is transported by the transport means while the intermediate transfer member is being transported. The cleaning waste adhered to the cleaning blade is removed by contacting the cleaning blade, and the structure for removing the cleaning waste is provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade. And a convex shape that can be inserted into the through hole is provided, and the convex shape is inserted into the through hole from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body to extrude the cleaning residue in the through hole. It is characterized by including a member. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a head for ejecting ink; an intermediate transfer member on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head; and the intermediate transfer member. A conveying means for conveying in a predetermined conveying direction, a transferring means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording are formed. A cleaning blade for cleaning the image forming surface, and the intermediate transfer member removes the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer member. structure is provided, the structure for removing the cleaning debris is provided over the length of the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member of the cleaning blade Wherein a through hole at least in the conveyance direction downstream side of the transport means of the cleaning blade, comprising a cleaning debris recovery means for recovering the cleaning debris collected in the construction of removing said cleaning debris, the cleaning debris collecting means, said An extrusion member that is provided with a convex shape that can be inserted into the through hole, and that pushes out the cleaning residue in the through hole by inserting the convex shape into the through hole from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member. It is characterized by including. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a head for ejecting ink; an intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head; and the intermediate transfer body. A conveying means for conveying in a predetermined conveying direction, a transferring means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording are formed. A cleaning blade for cleaning the image forming surface, and the intermediate transfer member removes the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer member. And a structure for removing the cleaning residue is provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. When the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade including at least a through hole is removed, the angle between the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller than when the image forming surface is cleaned by the cleaning blade. An angle changing means for changing the angle of the cleaning blade with respect to the forming surface; and a cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste downstream of the cleaning blade in the transport direction of the transport means; The cleaning waste collecting means is provided with a convex shape that can be inserted into the through hole, and the convex shape is inserted into the through hole from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member. An extrusion member for extruding the cleaning residue in the through hole is included.

According to the seventh to ninth aspects of the present invention, the cleaning residue in the through hole can be removed with a simple configuration in an aspect in which the structure for removing the cleaning residue (uneven structure) includes at least the through hole.

  The extrusion member preferably has an aspect in which a convex shape corresponding to the arrangement of the through holes is formed on the surface of the roller having a length corresponding to the width of the intermediate transfer body (length in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction). Further, it is preferable to determine the arrangement and shape (size) of the convex shape so that when the roller makes one round, at least one convex shape enters all the through holes in the blade cleaning region.

  Further, it is preferable that the convex shape is smaller than the hole diameter of the through hole so that the convex shape can easily enter the through hole.

A tenth aspect of the present invention relates to an aspect of the image forming apparatus according to any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, wherein the cleaning waste collecting means is arranged from the side opposite to the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member. It includes air blowing means for blowing air to the through hole to blow away the cleaning residue in the through hole.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning residue in the through hole is blown off by air, there is no need for consumable parts for maintenance of the through hole.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the tenth aspect, the clogging detection unit detects whether or not the through hole is clogged after the cleaning waste collection unit collects the cleaning residue. When the clogging of the through hole is detected by the clogging detection means, the through hole in which clogging has been detected is moved to the position of the cleaning waste collection means, and the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer member is increased. and conveyance control means for controlling said conveying means so as to be smaller than the normal image recording, the air injection out control means for controlling the air injection detecting means so as to be larger than normal pressure in the air blown into the through hole And.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably avoid clogging of the through hole and to perform a preferable cleaning of the cleaning blade.

  It is preferable that the normal printing is temporarily interrupted when the clogging is detected, and the interrupted printing is resumed after the clogging is resolved.

An image forming apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention provides an intermediate transfer in which a primary image is formed by a head for ejecting ink and ink ejected from the head and wound around three or more rollers. A transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and transfer of the transfer means by the transfer means. The intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is located downstream of the head, upstream of the transport means of the transport means of the head, and disposed at a position where at least one of the rollers is disposed between the head and the head. A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image is formed, and the intermediate transfer member is transported by the transport means while the intermediate transfer member is transported. Contacting the de has a structure of removing the cleaning debris adhering to the cleaning blade, the structure for removing the cleaning debris is provided over the length of the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member of the cleaning blade A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade, including at least one of the recessed hole and the recessed groove formed And the cleaning waste collecting means includes an extruding member that pushes the intermediate transfer member from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member to push out the cleaning residue in the structure for removing the cleaning residue. It is characterized by. According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a head for ejecting ink; an intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head; Conveying means for conveying in the conveying direction, transfer means for transferring and recording the primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and image formation for forming the primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording A cleaning blade for cleaning the surface, and the intermediate transfer member is configured to remove the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer member. The structure for removing the cleaning residue is provided with a recess provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. And a cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade. The cleaning waste collecting means includes an extruding member that pushes the intermediate transfer member from the side opposite to the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member to push out the cleaning residue in the structure for removing the cleaning residue. . According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a head for ejecting ink; an intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head; Conveying means for conveying in the conveying direction, transfer means for transferring and recording the primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and image formation for forming the primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording A cleaning blade for cleaning the surface, and the intermediate transfer member is configured to remove the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer member. The structure for removing the cleaning residue is provided with a recess provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. And an angle between the cleaning blade and the image forming surface when removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade than when cleaning the image forming surface with the cleaning blade. The angle change means for changing the angle of the cleaning blade with respect to the image forming surface so that the image forming surface is reduced, and the cleaning debris collected in the structure for removing the cleaning debris on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyance means of the cleaning blade is collected. Cleaning waste collection means for cleaning the waste residue in the structure for removing the cleaning waste by pressing the intermediate transfer member from the side opposite to the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member. An extruding member for extruding is provided.

According to the invention described in claims 12 to 14 , when a through hole cannot be formed in the intermediate transfer body, one or both of a non-through concave hole and a concave groove are formed as a structure for removing the cleaning residue. The cleaning blade can be cleaned in the same manner as the through hole.

  In an aspect in which an endless belt is applied to the intermediate transfer member, when a roller is applied to the extrusion member, the opening of the concave hole (concave groove) is widened by the curvature of the roller, and the cleaning residue in the concave hole (concave groove) is removed. Easy to remove.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to any one of the twelfth to fourteenth aspects, wherein the cleaning residue is disposed on the opposite side of the structure for removing the cleaning residue of the intermediate transfer member. Convex protrusions corresponding to the shape of the structure for removing the cleaning waste are provided, and the pushing member pushes the convex protrusions to push out the cleaning waste in the structure for removing the cleaning waste.

According to the invention described in claim 15, pressing is a convex protrusion pushing member provided corresponding to the recess hole (groove) be stand out more cleaning debris in the recessed hole (groove) Is possible.

  In order to maintain the strength of the intermediate transfer body, the surface on which the convex protrusions of the intermediate transfer body are provided is provided with a support member (back sheet), and the support member has a structure in which a region where the convex protrusions are provided is cut out. The height is preferably the same as the thickness of the support member or smaller than the thickness of the support member. That is, it is preferable that the support member has a structure in which the pushing member is cut out so as to correspond to the region where the convex protrusion is formed.

The invention described in claim 16 relates to an aspect of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15 , wherein the cleaning waste collecting means injects a cleaning liquid onto a structure for removing the cleaning residue. And a cleaning liquid ejecting means for rinsing the cleaning residue adhering to the structure for removing the cleaning residue.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning residue removed from the cleaning blade is not wiped off but washed away with the cleaning liquid, it is not necessary to replace the wiping member.

The invention of claim 17 relates to an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to claim 16, before Symbol cleaning debris collecting means for removing cleaning fluid and the cleaning debris attached to the structure to remove the cleaning Kas A cleaning liquid removing means for removing the cleaning liquid adhering to the periphery of the structure is provided.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning liquid used to wash away the cleaning residue is removed by the cleaning liquid removing unit, the cleaning liquid does not affect the next image formation.

  It is preferable that the cleaning member removing unit is an absorbing member that contacts the intermediate transfer member and absorbs and removes the cleaning solution.

An eighteenth aspect of the invention relates to an aspect of the image forming apparatus according to the seventeenth aspect of the invention, in which the cleaning waste collecting means determines the position of the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the conveyance path of the intermediate transfer member. based on the detection result of the position detecting means for detecting, as well as the structure of removing the cleaning debris injects cleaning liquid in accordance with the timing which is positioned in the cleaning liquid ejection area by the cleaning solution spray means, a structure of removing the cleaning Kas the The cleaning liquid ejecting means and the cleaning control means for controlling the cleaning liquid removing means are provided so as to remove the cleaning liquid in accordance with the timing positioned in the cleaning liquid removing area by the cleaning liquid removing means.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning liquid ejecting unit and the cleaning liquid removing unit are operated in accordance with the movement of the intermediate transfer member, consumption of the cleaning liquid is suppressed and consumption (wear) of the cleaning liquid removing unit is suppressed. Thus, it is possible to minimize the influence on the movement of the intermediate transfer member (the influence on image formation and transfer recording) by the operation of the cleaning liquid ejecting means and the cleaning liquid removing means.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 19 is an intermediate transfer in which a primary image is formed by a head for ejecting ink and ink ejected from the head and wound around three or more rollers. A transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and transfer of the transfer means by the transfer means. The intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is located downstream of the head, upstream of the transport means of the transport means of the head, and disposed at a position where at least one of the rollers is disposed between the head and the head. A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image is formed, and the intermediate transfer member is transported by the transport means while the intermediate transfer member is transported. Contacting the de has a structure of removing the cleaning debris adhering to the cleaning blade, the structure for removing the cleaning debris is provided over the length of the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member of the cleaning blade A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade. The cleaning liquid ejecting means for spraying the cleaning liquid onto the structure for removing the cleaning residue and washing away the cleaning residue adhering to the structure for removing the cleaning residue is provided. An image forming apparatus according to a twentieth aspect of the invention includes a head for ejecting ink, an intermediate transfer member on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head, and the intermediate transfer member with a predetermined amount. Conveying means for conveying in the conveying direction, transfer means for transferring and recording the primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and image formation for forming the primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording A cleaning blade for cleaning the surface, and the intermediate transfer member is configured to remove the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer member. The structure for removing the cleaning waste is provided over a length of the cleaning blade extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade, including at least a difference, and the cleaning waste recovery means includes the cleaning waste A cleaning liquid spraying means is provided for cleaning the cleaning residue adhering to the structure for removing the cleaning residue by spraying the cleaning solution to the structure for removing the residue. According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a head for ejecting ink; an intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head; Conveying means for conveying in the conveying direction, transfer means for transferring and recording the primary image formed on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording medium, and image formation for forming the primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording A cleaning blade for cleaning the surface, and the intermediate transfer member is configured to remove the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer member. The structure for removing the cleaning waste is provided over a length of the cleaning blade extending in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. The image formation is performed so that the angle between the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller when removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade including at least a difference than when cleaning the image forming surface with the cleaning blade. Angle changing means for changing the angle of the cleaning blade with respect to the surface, and cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste downstream of the cleaning blade in the transport direction of the transport means. The cleaning waste collecting means includes a cleaning liquid ejecting means for injecting the cleaning liquid onto the structure for removing the cleaning waste and washing away the cleaning waste adhering to the structure for removing the cleaning waste.

According to the invention described in claims 19 to 21 , the cleaning residue removed from the cleaning blade by the convex step can be washed away, and even if the convex step contacts another member, the cleaning residue is not formed on the other member. Does not adhere.

  The convex step may have a length extending in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the intermediate transfer member, or a combination of a plurality of lengths less than the width in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the intermediate transfer member. Thus, it may correspond to the length over the width in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the intermediate transfer member.

  It is preferable that the apparatus includes a moving unit that moves each convex portion so that the convex portion does not come into contact with the convex step when the convex step passes through each portion (for example, a transfer roller) around the conveyance path of the intermediate transfer member.

The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus for transferring the primary image onto a recording medium after ejecting ink from the head onto the intermediate transfer member to form a primary image on the intermediate transfer member. A cleaning method of a cleaning blade for cleaning, wherein the intermediate transfer member has a structure wound around three or more rollers, and the cleaning blade is a position at which the primary image is transferred and recorded on a recording medium. wherein a downstream side of the intermediate transfer member, the conveyance direction upstream side of the intermediate transfer body of the head, is disposed at a position at least one of said rollers is disposed between said head, said intermediate The transfer body is at least any of a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer body. Or structures one structure to remove the cleaning debris provided is provided on the image forming surface, wherein while the intermediate transfer body is conveyed, by contacting the cleaning blade structure for removing the cleaning debris, the cleaning blade There is provided a cleaning method for a cleaning blade, characterized in that the adhering cleaning residue is removed. Also, a cleaning blade for cleaning the intermediate transfer member in an image forming apparatus for transferring the primary image to a recording medium after ejecting ink from the head onto the intermediate transfer member to form a primary image on the intermediate transfer member. The intermediate transfer member is at least one of a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member. or structures one structure to remove the cleaning debris provided is provided in the image forming surface, and a structure for pre-removing KiKiyoshi scavenging Kas, said contacting and cleaning blade, and the structure for removing the cleaning Kas The cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade is removed, and after the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade is removed, the cleaning residue is removed. Recovering the cleaning debris collected in the structure removed by providing a method for cleaning the cleaning blade, wherein. The present invention also provides an image forming apparatus for transferring the primary image onto a recording medium after ejecting ink from the head onto the intermediate transfer member to form a primary image on the intermediate transfer member. A cleaning method of a cleaning blade for cleaning, wherein the intermediate transfer member has a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member. at least one structure in which one structure to remove the cleaning debris provided is provided in the image forming surface, in contact with structures which before removing KiKiyoshi scavenging Kas, and the cleaning blade, wherein the cleaning blade of the When the cleaning residue attached to the cleaning blade is removed, the image formation by the cleaning blade is performed. Than during the cleaning, provide a cleaning method of cleaning blade and changes the angle of the cleaning blade against the image formation surface so that the angle is reduced between the cleaning blade and the imaging surface.

  According to the present invention, the intermediate transfer member on which the primary image is formed is provided with the blade cleaning area for removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade. Therefore, the cleaning is performed every time the blade cleaning area passes over the cleaning blade. The blade is reliably cleaned. In addition, the structure is simple and inexpensive, and can be said to be a structure that does not easily fail. Furthermore, since the intermediate transfer member and the cleaning blade are cleaned without interrupting normal image formation (image recording), productivity is not reduced.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The ink jet recording apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment records an image (primary image) on the intermediate transfer belt 12 that is a non-penetrable medium, and then transfers the image onto a recording medium 14 such as plain paper to perform the main image (secondary image). And a coagulation treatment agent (hereinafter, simply referred to as “treatment liquid” in this embodiment) is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 12 as a main component. A processing liquid application section 16 for drying, a drying section 18 for drying the processing liquid applied on the intermediate transfer belt 12, and a printing section (ink droplets) for applying a plurality of colors of ink to the intermediate transfer belt 12. Part) 22, a transfer part 26 that transfers the ink image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 to the recording medium 14, a cleaning part 30 that cleans the intermediate transfer belt 12, and a cleaning waste (hereinafter simply “ Mosquito "Hereinafter.) Cleaning for collecting debris collection section 32 (in FIG. 1, and includes a in shown) enclosed by two-dot broken lines.

  The composition of the treatment liquid and ink used in this example will be described in detail later, but the treatment liquid is an acidic liquid having an action of aggregating the coloring material contained in the ink. The ink is a colored ink containing a coloring material (pigment) of each color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K).

  An endless belt is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 12. The intermediate transfer belt 12 has a structure in which it is wound around a plurality of rollers (two stretch rollers 34A and 34B and a heat roller 36 are shown in FIG. 1, but the belt winding form is not limited to this example). Then, the power of the motor (not shown in FIG. 1 and indicated by reference numeral 188 in FIG. 7) is transmitted to at least one of the stretching rollers 34A and 34B and the heat roller 36, whereby the intermediate transfer belt 12 is In the counterclockwise direction (direction indicated by arrow A).

  The intermediate transfer belt 12 is made of resin, metal, or the like in a drawing area (not shown in FIG. 1 and indicated by reference numeral 118 in FIG. 10) on which at least a primary image is formed on a surface (image forming surface) 12A facing the printing unit 22. And non-penetrable so that ink droplets such as rubber cannot penetrate. Further, at least the drawing region of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is configured to form a horizontal surface (flat surface) having a predetermined flatness.

  Preferred materials used for the surface layer including the image forming surface 12A of the intermediate transfer belt 12 include, for example, a polyimide resin, a silicon resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, a polystyrene resin, a polyolefin resin, and a polybutadiene resin. And publicly known materials such as polyamide resins, polyvinyl chloride resins, polyethylene resins, and fluorine resins.

  As the intermediate transfer belt 12 in the present embodiment, an elastic material having a surface energy of about 15 to 30 mN / m (= mJ / m 2) is applied to a base material such as polyimide from the viewpoint of durability and transferability of plain paper to about 30 to 150 μm. What was given by thickness is desirable, and coatings, such as a silicone rubber, a fluororubber, and a fluorine-type elastomer, are suitable.

  The treatment liquid application unit 16 applies a treatment liquid (aggregation treatment agent) as an undercoat liquid to the intermediate transfer belt 12 after the cleaning process by the cleaning unit 30 and is upstream of the printing unit 22 in the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. Placed in.

  For the treatment liquid application unit 16, for example, a gravure roller as a roller member for application is used. By rotating the gravure roller in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 while bringing the gravure roller to which the processing liquid is attached into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 12, the processing liquid is applied to the image forming surface 12A of the intermediate transfer belt 12. Applied.

  Further, it is preferable that the treatment liquid contains 1 to 5% by weight of a polymer resin (fine particles) for the purpose of improving coloring material fixing property and transferability when ink is ejected.

  The drying unit 18 is disposed on the downstream side of the processing liquid application unit 16 and on the upstream side of the printing unit 22. In the drying unit 18 of this example, a heater whose temperature is controlled in the range of 50 to 100 ° C. is used. The processing liquid applied onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 by the processing liquid coating unit 16 is heated by passing through the drying unit 18, and the solvent component is evaporated and dried. As a result, a solid or semi-solid aggregation treatment agent layer (a thin film layer obtained by drying the treatment liquid) is formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12.

  The “solid or semi-solid flocculating agent layer” as used herein refers to one having a moisture content in the range of 0 to 70% as defined below.

乾燥部１８の中間転写体搬送方向下流側かつ印字部２２よりも上流側には、図示しない冷却器を配置してもよい。例えば、この冷却器は中間転写ベルト１２の裏面側に配置される。冷却器は、所定の温度範囲に制御可能であり、乾燥部１８の加熱乾燥により凝集処理剤層が形成された中間転写ベルト１２を当該冷却器にて４０℃程度に低温化することで、中間転写ベルト１２からの輻射熱を低減し、印字部２２におけるヘッドのノズル内インクの乾燥を抑制する。

A cooler (not shown) may be disposed downstream of the drying unit 18 in the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member and upstream of the printing unit 22. For example, the cooler is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The cooler can be controlled within a predetermined temperature range, and the intermediate transfer belt 12 on which the aggregation treatment agent layer is formed by heat drying of the drying unit 18 is lowered to about 40 ° C. by the cooler, so that the intermediate Radiant heat from the transfer belt 12 is reduced, and drying of the ink in the nozzles of the head in the printing unit 22 is suppressed.

  The printing unit 22 is an ink jet type liquid discharge head (hereinafter referred to as “head”) 22Y, 22C, 22M corresponding to each ink color of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). , 22K.

  With respect to the aggregation treatment agent layer on the intermediate transfer belt 12 that has passed through the drying unit 18 (and the cooling unit if necessary), each color (YMCK) according to an image signal from each head 22Y, 22C, 22M, 22K of the printing unit 22 ) Is ejected onto the aggregating agent layer. The ink may contain a polymer resin (fine particles) having film-forming properties. In such an embodiment, the abrasion resistance and storage stability are improved by the transfer process and the fixing process.

  When ink droplets are landed on the aggregating agent layer, the contact surface between the ink and the aggregating agent layer lands on a predetermined area due to the balance between the flying energy and the surface energy. The aggregation reaction starts immediately after the ink has landed on the aggregation treatment agent, but the aggregation reaction starts from the contact surface between the ink and the aggregation treatment agent layer. The agglomeration reaction occurs only in the vicinity of the contact surface, and the color material in the ink is agglomerated in a state where the adhesive force is obtained with a predetermined contact area at the time of ink landing, so that the color material movement is suppressed.

  Even if other ink droplets land adjacent to this ink droplet, the color material of the ink that has landed first is already agglomerated, so the color materials do not mix with the ink that landed later, Bleed is suppressed. After the color material is aggregated, the separated ink solvent spreads, and a liquid layer in which the aggregation treatment agent is dissolved is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12.

  As described above, the ink that has landed on the aggregation treatment agent layer forms an aggregate of pigment by an aggregation reaction and is separated from the solvent. In addition, as a means for removing the solvent (residual solvent) component separated from the pigment aggregates, a solvent removal roller (not shown) is provided in the subsequent stage of the printing unit 22 (an absorption roller made of a porous material or a liquid holding unevenness on the surface). A mode in which a roller or the like is disposed and the excess solvent is removed is also preferable.

  The transfer unit 26 includes a heat roller 36 having heaters (not shown in FIG. 1, representative of a plurality of heaters in FIG. 7 and indicated by reference numeral 189), and a transfer for a pressure nip disposed opposite thereto. And a roller 38. The intermediate transfer belt 12 and the recording medium 14 are sandwiched between the heat roller 36 and the transfer roller 38, and heated to a predetermined temperature and pressurized with a predetermined pressure (nip pressure), so that the intermediate transfer belt 12 is placed on the intermediate transfer belt 12. The formed primary image is transferred to the recording medium 14.

  Examples of the means for adjusting the nip pressure at the time of transfer in the transfer unit 26 include a mechanism (drive means) that moves the heat roller 36 and / or the transfer roller 38 in the vertical direction in FIG.

  The nip pressure and heating temperature (roller temperature) at the time of transfer are controlled to appropriate values according to conditions such as the material of the intermediate transfer belt 12, the ink used, and the type of recording medium. If the heating temperature at the time of transfer is too high, there is a problem such as deformation of the intermediate transfer belt 12. On the other hand, if the heating temperature is too low, there is a problem that transferability deteriorates.

  Although the details of the configuration of the supply unit (paper feed unit) of the recording medium 14 are not illustrated, an aspect including a magazine for rolled paper (continuous paper), or instead of or in combination with a magazine for rolled paper, There is a mode in which sheets are supplied by a cassette in which cut sheets are stacked and loaded. In the case of an apparatus configuration using roll paper, a cutter for cutting is provided, and the roll paper is cut into a desired size by the cutter. A plurality of magazines and cassettes having different paper widths and paper qualities may be provided.

  When a plurality of types of recording media can be used, an information recording body such as a barcode or a wireless tag that records the media type information is attached to the magazine, and the information on the information recording body is read by a predetermined reader. Thus, it is preferable to automatically determine the type of recording medium (media type) to be used and perform ink ejection control so as to realize appropriate ink ejection according to the media type.

  Specific examples of the recording medium 14 applied to this example include permeable media such as plain paper (including high-quality paper and recycled paper), ink-jet exclusive paper, and non-permeable or low permeable media such as coated paper. There are various media such as sealing paper with adhesive and release label on the back, resin film such as OHP sheet, metal sheet, electronic circuit board, cloth, and wood.

  The recording medium 14 sent to the transfer unit 26 is heated and pressurized at a predetermined temperature and a predetermined nip pressure by a heat roller 36 and a transfer roller 38, and the primary image on the intermediate transfer belt 12 is transferred onto the recording medium 14. Is done. The recording medium 14 (printed material) that has passed through the transfer unit 26 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 12 by a peeling claw (not shown), and is discharged outside the apparatus by a conveying unit (not shown). Although not shown in FIG. 1, the paper output unit is provided with a sorter for collecting printed products according to print orders.

  The recording medium 14 (printed material) peeled off from the intermediate transfer belt 12 may be subjected to a fixing process (not shown) before being discharged outside the apparatus. The fixing unit includes, for example, a heating roller pair whose temperature and pressure can be adjusted. By adding such a fixing step, the polymer fine particles contained in the ink are formed (a thin film in which the polymer fine particles are dissolved is formed on the outermost surface of the image), thereby further improving the abrasion resistance and storage property. improves. The heating temperature in the fixing process is preferably 100 to 130 ° C., and the applied pressure is preferably 2.5 to 3.0 MPa, and is optimized according to the temperature characteristics (film formation temperature: MFT) of the added polymer resin. Of course, in the transfer process in the transfer unit 26, if both transferability and film formation can be achieved, a mode in which the fixing unit is omitted is possible.

  After the transfer process by the transfer unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 12 that has passed through the peeling unit 40 by the peeling claw reaches the cleaning unit 30.

  The cleaning unit 30 is means for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 12 using water such as distilled water or purified water, a solvent recovered by a solvent removal roller, or a cleaning liquid obtained by adding a surfactant to these liquids. A cleaning liquid ejecting unit 50 that ejects the cleaning liquid and a cleaning blade 52 that contacts the image forming surface 12A of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and slides and wipes the image forming surface 12A of the intermediate transfer belt 12 are configured. Further, a platen 54 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 12 with which the cleaning blade 52 is in sliding contact.

  The cleaning blade 52 is formed to be equal to or slightly longer than the width of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (see FIG. 8B), and can scrape the entire width of the intermediate transfer belt 12 at a time. The intermediate transfer belt 12 is cleaned by scraping with the cleaning blade 52 while ejecting the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid ejecting unit 50 toward the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The cleaning unit 30 is covered with a container 56 in order to prevent the cleaning liquid from scattering and to collect the scraped liquid by the cleaning blade 52. The cleaning unit 30 mainly functions as a means for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 12 after the image transfer to the recording medium 14 is completed.

  Although details will be described later, the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade 52 having a length corresponding to the width of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is removed by the intermediate transfer belt 12, and the removed cleaning residue is collected by the cleaning residue collecting unit 32. It is the composition to do.

  Next, the configuration of the main part of the inkjet recording apparatus 10 will be further described in detail.

(Composition of printing part)
As shown in FIG. 1, the printing unit 22 corresponds to each color in the order of yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K) from the upstream side in the intermediate transfer member conveyance direction. The heads 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K are provided side by side.

  The ink storage / loading unit 58 includes ink tanks that store ink liquids respectively supplied to the heads 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K. Each ink tank communicates with a corresponding head through a required flow path, and supplies a corresponding ink liquid to each head. The ink storage / loading unit 58 includes notifying means (display means, warning sound generating means) for notifying when the remaining amount of liquid in the tank is low, and has a mechanism for preventing erroneous loading between liquids. is doing.

  Ink is supplied from each ink tank of the ink storage / loading unit 58 to each head 22Y, 22C, 22M, 22K, and corresponds to the image forming surface 12A of the intermediate transfer belt 12 from each head 22Y, 22C, 22M, 22K. Color ink to be ejected.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printing unit 22. As shown in the figure, each of the heads 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K has a length corresponding to the maximum width of the drawing area on the intermediate transfer belt 12, and the ink discharge surface has ink over the entire width of the drawing area. This is a full-line type head having a nozzle row in which a plurality of nozzles for ejection (not shown in FIG. 2 and indicated by reference numeral 81 in FIG. 3) are arranged. Each of the heads 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K is fixedly installed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member (intermediate transfer belt).

  According to the configuration in which a full-line type head having a nozzle row covering the entire width of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is provided for each discharge liquid, the intermediate transfer belt 12 in the conveyance direction (indicated by symbol A in FIG. 2) An image (primary image) can be formed in the drawing area of the intermediate transfer belt 12 by performing the operation of relatively moving the transfer belt 12 and the printing unit 22 once (that is, by one sub-scan). . Thus, high-speed printing is possible as compared with the case where a serial (shuttle) type head that reciprocates in a direction (main scanning direction; a direction indicated by an arrow M in FIG. 3) orthogonal to the intermediate transfer member conveyance direction is applied. , Print productivity can be improved.

  In this example, the configuration of YMCK standard colors (four colors) is illustrated, but the combination of ink colors and the number of colors is not limited to this embodiment, and light ink, dark ink, and special color ink are used as necessary. May be added. For example, it is possible to add an ink head that discharges light-colored ink such as light cyan and light magenta, and the arrangement order of the color heads is not particularly limited.

[Head structure]
Next, the structure of each head will be described. Since the structures of the color-specific heads 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K are the same, the head is represented by the reference numeral 80 in the following.

  FIG. 3A is a plan perspective view showing a structural example of the head 80, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a part thereof. In order to increase the dot pitch printed on the recording medium 14, it is necessary to increase the nozzle pitch in the head 80. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the head 80 of this example includes a plurality of ink chamber units (recording) including nozzles 81 serving as ink discharge ports, pressure chambers 82 corresponding to the nozzles 81, and the like. It has a structure in which liquid droplet ejection elements (element units) 83 are arranged in a staggered matrix (two-dimensionally), so that in the head longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12). A high density of substantial nozzle intervals (projection nozzle pitch) projected so as to be aligned along the line is achieved.

Over the transport direction (shown by arrow in FIG S) and length corresponding to the full width W _m of the drawing area of the intermediate transfer belt 12 in a substantially perpendicular main scanning direction (indicated by arrow in FIG M) of the intermediate transfer belt 12 The form which comprises one or more nozzle rows is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, instead of the configuration of FIG. 3 (a), as shown in FIG. 4, a long head module 80 'in which a plurality of nozzles 81 are two-dimensionally arranged is arranged in a staggered manner and connected to form a long Therefore, a line head having a nozzle row having a length corresponding to the entire width of the drawing area of the intermediate transfer belt 12 as a whole may be configured.

  The pressure chamber 82 provided corresponding to each nozzle 81 has a substantially square planar shape (see FIGS. 3A and 3B), and the nozzle 81 is provided at one of the diagonal corners. An outlet for supplying ink (supply port) 84 is provided on the other side. Note that the shape of the pressure chamber 82 is not limited to this example, and the planar shape may have various forms such as a quadrangle (rhombus, rectangle, etc.), a pentagon, a hexagon, other polygons, a circle, and an ellipse.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a three-dimensional configuration of one channel of droplet discharge elements (ink chamber unit corresponding to one nozzle 81) serving as a recording element unit in the head 80 (5- in FIG. 3A). 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5).

  As shown in FIG. 5, each pressure chamber 82 communicates with the common flow path 85 via the supply port 84. The common flow path 85 communicates with an ink tank (not shown) as an ink supply source, and the ink supplied from the ink tank is supplied to each pressure chamber 82 via the common flow path 85.

  An actuator 88 having an individual electrode 87 is joined to a pressure plate (vibrating plate also serving as a common electrode) 86 constituting a part of the pressure chamber 82 (the top surface in FIG. 5). By applying a driving voltage between the individual electrode 87 and the common electrode, the actuator 88 is deformed to change the volume of the pressure chamber 82, and ink is ejected from the nozzle 81 due to the pressure change accompanying this. The actuator 88 is preferably a piezoelectric element using a piezoelectric material such as lead zirconate titanate or barium titanate. After the ink is ejected, when the displacement of the actuator 88 returns, the pressure chamber 82 is refilled with new ink from the common channel 85 through the supply port 84.

  By controlling the driving of the actuator 88 corresponding to each nozzle 81 according to the dot data generated by the digital halftoning process from the input image, the ink droplets can be ejected from the nozzle 81. While the intermediate transfer belt 12 is transported at a constant speed in the sub-scanning direction (see FIG. 3A), the ink discharge timing of each nozzle 81 is controlled in accordance with the transport speed, so that the intermediate transfer belt 12 is placed on the intermediate transfer belt 12. A desired image (here, a primary image before transfer) can be recorded.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the ink chamber unit 83 having the structure described above is latticed in a fixed arrangement pattern along a row direction along the main scanning direction and an oblique column direction having a constant angle θ not orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The high-density nozzle head of this example is realized by arranging a large number in the shape.

  That is, the pitch P of the nozzles projected (orthographically projected) so as to be arranged in the main scanning direction by a structure in which a plurality of ink chamber units 83 are arranged at a constant pitch d along a certain angle θ with respect to the main scanning direction. D × cos θ, and in the main scanning direction, each nozzle 81 can be handled equivalently as a linear array with a constant pitch P. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize a substantial increase in the density of nozzle rows projected so as to be aligned in the main scanning direction.

  When driving a nozzle with a full line head having a nozzle row having a length corresponding to the entire printable width, (1) all the nozzles are driven simultaneously, (2) the nozzles are sequentially moved from one side to the other. (3) The nozzle is divided into blocks, each block is sequentially driven from one side to the other, and the like, and the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12) ) Is defined as main scanning, which prints one line (a line composed of a single line of dots or a line composed of a plurality of lines of dots).

  In particular, when driving the nozzles 81 arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. 6, the main scanning as described in the above (3) is preferable. That is, nozzles 81-11, 81-12, 81-13, 81-14, 81-15, 81-16 are made into one block (other nozzles 81-21,..., 81-26 are made into one block, Nozzles 81-31,..., 81-36 as one block,..., And the nozzles 81-11, 81-12,. One line is printed in the width direction of the transfer belt 12.

  On the other hand, by moving the full line head and the intermediate transfer belt 12 relative to each other, printing of one line (a line composed of a single line or a line composed of a plurality of lines) formed by the main scanning is repeated. What is done is defined as sub-scanning.

  The direction indicated by one line (or the longitudinal direction of the belt-like region) recorded by the main scanning is referred to as a main scanning direction, and the direction in which the sub scanning is performed is referred to as a sub scanning direction. In other words, in the present embodiment, the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is the sub-scanning direction, and the direction orthogonal to it is the main scanning direction. In the implementation of the present invention, the nozzle arrangement structure is not limited to the illustrated example.

  In this embodiment, a method of ejecting ink droplets by deformation of an actuator 88 typified by a piezo element (piezoelectric element) is adopted. However, the method of ejecting ink is not particularly limited in implementing the present invention. Instead of the piezo jet method, various methods such as a thermal jet method in which ink is heated by a heating element such as a heater to generate bubbles and ink droplets are ejected by the pressure can be applied.

[Explanation of control system]
FIG. 7 is a principal block diagram showing the system configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus 10. The ink jet recording apparatus 10 includes a communication interface 170, a system controller 172, a memory 174, a motor driver 176, a heater driver 178, a transfer control unit 179, a print control unit 180, an image buffer memory 182, a head driver 184, and an aggregation treatment liquid application control unit. 185 and the like.

  The communication interface 170 is an interface unit that receives image data sent from the host computer 186. As the communication interface 170, a serial interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, Ethernet (registered trademark), a wireless network, or a parallel interface such as Centronics can be applied. In this part, a buffer memory (not shown) for speeding up communication may be mounted. Image data sent from the host computer 186 is taken into the inkjet recording apparatus 10 via the communication interface 170 and temporarily stored in the memory 174.

  The memory 174 is a storage unit that temporarily stores an image input via the communication interface 170, and data is read and written through the system controller 172. The memory 174 is not limited to a memory made of a semiconductor element, and a magnetic medium such as a hard disk may be used.

  The system controller 172 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and its peripheral circuits, and functions as a control device that controls the entire inkjet recording apparatus 10 according to a predetermined program, and also functions as an arithmetic device that performs various calculations. . That is, the system controller 172 controls the communication interface 170, the memory 174, the motor driver 176, the heater driver 178, the transfer control unit 179, and the like, and performs communication control with the host computer 186, read / write control of the memory 174, and the like. At the same time, a control signal for controlling the motor 188 and the heater 189 of the transport system is generated.

  The memory 174 stores programs executed by the CPU of the system controller 172 and various data necessary for control. Note that the memory 174 may be a non-rewritable storage means, or may be a rewritable storage means such as an EEPROM. The memory 174 is used as a temporary storage area for image data, and is also used as a program development area and a calculation work area for the CPU.

  The motor driver 176 is a driver that drives the motor 188 in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 172. In FIG. 7, the motors arranged in the respective units in the apparatus are represented by reference numeral 188. For example, the motor 188 shown in FIG. 7 includes a motor that drives a drive roller of the stretching rollers 34A and 34B shown in FIG. 1, a drive motor for a conveyance mechanism that conveys the recording medium 14, and the like.

  The heater driver 178 is a driver that drives the heater 189 in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 172. In FIG. 7, a plurality of heaters provided in the inkjet recording apparatus 10 are represented by reference numeral 189. For example, the heater 189 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a heater included in the drying unit 18 illustrated in FIG. 1 and a heating roller pair of a fixing unit (not illustrated) (a processing unit that fixes an image on the recording medium 14 after transfer recording). Includes included heaters.

  The transfer control unit 179 performs pressure control of the transfer roller 38 of the transfer unit 26 shown in FIG. The optimum pressing value of the transfer roller 38 is obtained in advance for each type of recording medium 14 and each type of ink, and is converted into a data table and stored in a predetermined memory (for example, the memory 174). When the information on the recording medium 14 and the ink used are acquired, the pressure on the transfer roller 38 is controlled with reference to the memory. The motor of the moving mechanism that moves the transfer roller 38 when the pressure of the transfer roller 38 is varied is included in the motor 188 in FIG.

  The system controller 172 receives a detection signal sent from a sensor provided in each part of the apparatus, and sends a control signal to each part of the apparatus based on the detection signal. That is, the system controller 172 functions as a control unit that controls each unit based on the detection signal of each sensor.

  The print control unit 180 has a signal processing function for performing various processes and corrections for generating a print control signal from the image data in the memory 174 in accordance with the control of the system controller 172. The generated print data This is a control unit that supplies (dot data) to the head driver 184. Necessary signal processing is performed in the print control unit 180, and the ejection amount and ejection timing of the ink droplets of the head 80 are controlled via the head driver 184 based on the image data. Thereby, a desired dot size and dot arrangement are realized.

  The print control unit 180 includes an image buffer memory 182, and image data, parameters, and other data are temporarily stored in the image buffer memory 182 when image data is processed in the print control unit 180. Also possible is an aspect in which the print controller 180 and the system controller 172 are integrated and configured with one processor.

  The head driver 184 generates a drive signal to be applied to the actuator 88 of the head 80 (heads 22Y, 22C, 22M, 22K) based on the image data given from the print control unit 180, and sends the drive signal to the actuator 88. It is configured to include a drive circuit that drives the actuator 88 by applying. Note that the head driver 184 shown in FIG. 7 may include a feedback control system for keeping the driving condition of the head 80 constant.

  Data of an image to be printed is input from the outside via the communication interface 170 and stored in the memory 174. At this stage, RGB image data is stored in the memory 174.

  The image data stored in the memory 174 is sent to the print control unit 180 via the system controller 172, and is converted into dot data for each ink color by the print control unit 180. That is, the print control unit 180 performs a process of converting the input RGB image data into YCMK four-color dot data. The dot data generated by the print control unit 180 is stored in the image buffer memory 182.

  Note that the primary image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 must be a mirror image of the secondary image (recorded image) finally formed on the recording medium 14 in consideration of reversal at the time of transfer. I must. That is, the drive signal supplied to the heads 22Y, 22C, 22M, and 22K is a drive signal corresponding to the mirror image, and the print control unit 180 needs to invert the input image.

  The aggregation processing liquid application control unit 185 controls the processing liquid application unit 16 based on a control signal sent from the print control unit 180. For example, when image data is sent to the print control unit 180, the application amount of the aggregation processing liquid is determined, and when the drawing area (see FIG. 9) reaches the processing area of the processing liquid application unit 16, application of the aggregation processing liquid is started. The

  Various control programs are stored in the program storage unit 190 illustrated in FIG. 7, and the control programs are read and executed in accordance with instructions from the system controller 172. The program storage unit 190 may use a semiconductor memory such as a ROM or an EEPROM, or may use a magnetic disk or the like. An external interface may be provided and a memory card or PC card may be used. Of course, you may provide several recording media among these recording media. The program storage unit 190 may also be used as a recording unit (not shown) for operating parameters.

[Description of the cleaning method of the blade in the cleaning section]
Next, the details of the cleaning unit 30 and the cleaning waste collection unit 32 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  FIG. 8A is a main part configuration diagram of the cleaning unit 30 and the cleaning waste collection unit 32. A part or a plurality of parts of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is provided with a hole part 92 (blade cleaning region) in which a plurality of holes 90 are formed (see FIG. 8B). When the hole 92 passes over the cleaning blade 52 due to the conveyance of the intermediate transfer belt 12, the residue 95 accumulated in the cleaning blade 52 enters the hole 90, and the hole 92 becomes a cleaning blade along with the conveyance of the intermediate transfer belt 12. 52 Moves to the cleaning waste collecting part 32 on the downstream side.

  The holes 90 are arranged so that the debris 95 adhering to the cleaning blade 52 is uniformly removed. When the intermediate transfer belt 12 is conveyed, the entire surface of the cleaning blade 52 (the entire width in the scraping surface) always passes through the hole 90. Are arranged as follows. As shown in FIG. 8 (b), the entire surface of the cleaning blade 52 can be covered with a smaller number of holes by configuring the holes 90 of the intermediate transfer belt 12 with different sizes.

The amount (number) of the holes 90 is determined according to the amount of debris 95 attached to the cleaning blade 52. Here, assuming that the processing liquid is applied to the belt width of 500 mm and the circumference of 7000 mm, the cleaning liquid is scraped off by the cleaning blade 52, and 70% slides down from the cleaning blade 52 together with the cleaning liquid. The amount of remaining residue 95 is 500 × 7000 × 0.003 × 0.3 = 3150 mm ³ for one belt revolution.

Belt holes 90 against which the belt width 500mm thickness 0.3 mm, I open the hole with aperture rate of 50% between the circumferential length direction 100mm 0.3 × 500 × 100 × 0.5 = 7500mm 3 with safety factor 2 or more and Become. Specifically, 120 φ10 mm holes and 800 φ5 mm holes (5 x 5 x pi x 120 + 2.5 x 2.5 x pi x 800) x 0.3 = 7536 mm ³ , and a 5 mm hole around the 10 mm hole Surround with ~ 7.

  If the amount of residue 95 is large and the cleaning performance deteriorates before the intermediate transfer belt 12 makes one round, the positions of the holes 90 (hole portions 92) are divided into a plurality of locations on the peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. Thus, the cleaning blade 52 is sequentially cleaned, and the cleaning performance of the cleaning blade 52 can be maintained.

  Even if the cleaning blade 52 is fixed, there is an effect. However, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the belt hole comes over the cleaning blade 52, the angle of the cleaning blade 52 is lowered to improve the effect. Thus, more debris adhering to the cleaning blade 52 can be removed. For example, during normal belt cleaning (when cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 12 that removes deposits 94 such as ink attached to the belt surface), the angle (blade) between the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the cleaning blade 52 in the state shown in FIG. The angle α) is 45 °. On the other hand, when the cleaning blade 52 is cleaned (when it comes into contact with the hole 92), the blade angle α is set to 20 ° as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the cleaning blade 52 is urged in the direction of pushing the belt surface (upward in FIG. 9) by a spring 96 (biasing member).

  The timing at which the cleaning blade 52 is laid is recognized by the belt position detection sensor 98 shown in FIG. 8A for the position of the hole 90 (hole 92) of the intermediate transfer belt 12 (or the mark attached to the intermediate transfer belt 12). Thus, the control is performed so as to return to the original angle after a predetermined time has elapsed since the hole 90 or the like was recognized.

  That is, a belt position detection sensor 98 (preferably a non-contact type, for example, using an optical sensor) is arranged upstream of the cleaning liquid ejecting unit 50 in the belt conveyance direction. When the position (or predetermined mark) of (hole 92) is detected, the cleaning blade 52 is pushed up by an actuator (not shown), and the blade angle is set to a predetermined angle (for example, 20 °).

  This state is maintained for at least the time until the hole 92 passes through the cleaning blade 52 (FIG. 8A), and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the push-up of the cleaning blade 52 is released to restore the original blade angle (FIG. 9). Return to). Based on the position of the belt position detection sensor 98 and the belt conveyance speed, a predetermined time required for control is set. The switching of the blade angle α is controlled by the system controller 172 in FIG.

  The blade angle α during cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is preferably 45 ° or more and 80 ° or less. Further, the blade angle α during cleaning of the cleaning blade 52 is preferably 0 ° to 45 °, and more preferably 5 ° to 45 °.

  For example, when cleaning the cleaning blade 52, the tip of the cleaning blade 52 is positioned above the rotational axis of the cleaning blade 52 (on the intermediate transfer belt 12 side) with respect to the image forming surface 12 A of the intermediate transfer belt 12. Thus, the blade angle α is determined. In other words, the blade angle α is horizontal so that the tip of the cleaning blade 52 is raised from the state in which the image forming surface 12A of the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the cleaning blade 52 are parallel (blade angle α = 0 °). Or it is controlled to be within horizontal.

  The cleaning blade 52 is preferably an elastic material having a hardness of 80 to 90 degrees in view of durability and cleaning performance of the intermediate transfer belt 12. Here, urethane rubber (AU) having a thickness of 7 mm or nitrile rubber (NBR) is used.

  The cleaning waste collecting unit 32 provided on the downstream side of the cleaning blade 52 is a roller (having a protruding warp 101) on the surface as a means for collecting the waste 95 that has entered the hole 90 of the intermediate transfer belt 12. "Convex wart roller 102"), an air nozzle 104, and a collection container 106. Further, on the downstream side of the air nozzle 104, a wiping member (in this example, a wiping sponge 108) for wiping off spills overflowing on the belt inner surface side is provided.

  The convex wart roller 102 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface (back surface) side of the intermediate transfer belt 12, and is moved in the vertical direction of FIG. 8A by the eccentric cam 110, whereby the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 12. A state of contacting with the belt and a state of being separated from the belt are possible.

  The wart 101 (convex protrusion) of the convex warp roller 102 pushes out the residue 95 that is smaller than the diameter of the hole 90 formed in the intermediate transfer belt 12 and is clogged in the hole 90. Immediately after that, compressed air is blown from the inside of the intermediate transfer belt 12 from the air nozzle 104, and the residue 95 in the hole 90 is blown away.

  One convex wart roller 102 having a length corresponding to the width of the intermediate transfer belt 12 may be provided, or a plurality of convex wart rollers 102 having a length less than the width of the intermediate transfer belt 12 may be combined. The number and arrangement of the warts 101 are determined such that at least one wart 101 enters all of the holes 90 of the hole 92 when the convex wart roller 102 makes one round.

  Further, a plurality of air nozzles 104 may be arranged corresponding to the width of the intermediate transfer belt 12, or one or a plurality of air nozzles 104 may be scanned in the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 12.

  A recovery container 106 is provided on the opposite side of the convex warp roller 102 and the air nozzle 104 across the intermediate transfer belt 12, and the residue 95 removed from the hole 90 is recovered in the recovery container 106. Further, the recovery container 106 is provided with an exhaust passage 112 through which air is released.

  The timing at which the convex wart roller 102 is attached to and detached from the intermediate transfer belt 12 and the compressed air is discharged from the air nozzle 104 is controlled by the elapsed time from the detection timing based on the detection by the belt position detection sensor 98 shown in FIG. Use air only when necessary to reduce compressor operation time.

  Further, the waste that protrudes to the inner side of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is wiped off by the most downstream wiping sponge 108, thereby preventing the belt drive rollers (34A, 34B, 36) from being soiled. The wiping sponge 108 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 12 when it is not necessary to control the attachment / detachment based on the detection result of the belt position detection sensor 98, so that the wiping sponge 108 is worn away or the wiping sponge 108 is subjected to intermediate transfer. Abnormal conveyance of the intermediate transfer belt 12 due to contact with the belt 12 is prevented.

  A clogging detection sensor 114 (for example, a luminance sensor) is provided at the subsequent stage of the cleaning waste collection unit 32, and the clogging detection sensor 114 checks whether the hole 90 is clogged or penetrated. When clogged, reduce the belt conveyance speed when air is blown to the next circumference (for example, from 500 mm / sec to 20 mm / sec). Alternatively, the air pressure ejected from the air nozzle 104 is increased. Alternatively, by performing both of them and reliably removing the residue 95 from the hole 90, stable quality can be maintained without clogging.

  Even if the intermediate transfer belt 12 is rotated once while a part of the holes 90 are clogged, since the scrap receiving capacity of the holes 90 is opened with a safety factor of 2 or more, the blade cleaning performance can be maintained.

  When the apparatus is started up or when printing is started from a state where the apparatus has been stopped for a predetermined time (for example, the time during which the processing liquid entering the hole 90 is solidified in the hole 90, about 30 minutes), the intermediate transfer belt 12 is set to 1 The clogging of the hole 90 is confirmed by the clogging detection sensor 114. If the clogging of the hole 90 is clogged, the intermediate transfer belt 12 is further rotated once to clean the hole 90 to enable printing. In addition, when the printing job is completed or the apparatus is shut down, the intermediate transfer belt 12 is rotated once to perform the clogging check operation and the hole 90 cleaning operation.

  FIG. 10 shows the positional relationship between the hole 92 as the blade cleaning area and the drawing area 118 in the intermediate transfer belt 12. As shown in the figure, non-drawing areas 120 are provided on both sides of the hole 92 by a predetermined amount (here, 20 mm each in the belt conveyance direction). For this reason, even if the debris slightly protrudes from the hole 90, the image quality of the drawing area is not affected.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a sequence when the apparatus is started up and shut down.

  When the start-up / down sequence is started (step S10), first, the cleaning liquid spraying unit 50 shown in FIG. 8A starts spraying the cleaning liquid (step S12 in FIG. 11), and the cleaning blade 52 is moved to the normal printing angle. (In this example, it is set to 45 ° as shown in FIG. 9) (step S14), and driving of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is started (step S16). That is, in steps S12 to S16, the cleaning process for the intermediate transfer belt 12 is executed.

  Next, the presence / absence of clogging is determined based on the detection signal from the clogging detection sensor 114 (sensor 2) (step S18). If it is not possible to confirm that all the clogging has been eliminated, No determination is made in step S18, and the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20, it is determined whether or not the position of the hole 92 (or recognition of a predetermined mark) has been made by the belt position detection sensor 98 (sensor 1). Until the recognition by the belt position detection sensor 98 is obtained, the process of step S20 loops, and the detection signal of the belt position detection sensor 98 is monitored.

  In step S20, when the belt position detection sensor 98 detects the position (or a predetermined mark) of the hole 92 (Yes determination), the process proceeds to the hole clogging processing mode (step S22), and the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is decreased. (Step S24) and the air ejection pressure from the air nozzle 104 of FIG. 8A is set to be higher than that during normal processing (step S26 of FIG. 11).

  Then, the convex wart roller 102 is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 12 (step S30), air ejection from the air nozzle 104 is started (step S32), and the wiping sponge 108 is set at a position where it abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the belt. (Step S34).

  Whether or not a predetermined time (time until the hole 92 passes through the processing region of the cleaning unit 30 and the cleaning waste collection unit 32) has elapsed after the hole position (or predetermined mark) is recognized by the belt position detection sensor 98. (Step S36), and the same state is maintained until a predetermined time elapses. During this time, cleaning waste is removed and recovered.

  In step S36, if the predetermined time has elapsed and the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S38, where the convex warp roller is separated, the air injection is stopped (step S40), and the wiping sponge 108 is separated (step S42).

  After the process in step S42, the process returns to step S18, and if a clog is found in step S18, the processes in steps S20 to S42 are repeated.

  In step S18, when it is confirmed that the clogging has been eliminated (No determination), the process proceeds to step S50, the driving of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is stopped, the cleaning blade 52 is separated (step S52), and the ejection of the cleaning liquid is stopped. (Step S54). After the process of step S54, this sequence is finished (step S56).

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a cleaning sequence of the cleaning blade 52 during normal printing. As described above, during normal printing, a series of image recording sequences such as formation of a primary image on the intermediate transfer belt 12, transfer recording onto the recording medium 14, and cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt 12 are executed. In the sequence, the cleaning sequence of the cleaning blade 52 is executed.

  When the cleaning sequence of the cleaning blade 52 in the normal printing sequence is started (step S100), first, the ejection of the cleaning liquid is started (step S102), and the cleaning blade 52 is moved to the normal printing angle (in this example, 45 ° as shown in FIG. 9). ) (Step S104), and driving of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is started (step S106). That is, in steps S102 to S106, the cleaning sequence for the intermediate transfer belt 12 is executed.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the position of the hole 92 has been recognized (or a predetermined mark has been recognized) by the belt position detection sensor 98 (step S108). Until the recognition by the belt position detection sensor 98 is obtained, the process of step S108 loops, and the detection signal of the belt position detection sensor 98 is monitored.

  In step S108, when the belt position detection sensor 98 detects the position (or predetermined mark) of the hole 92 (Yes determination), the cleaning blade 52 is laid at an angle of 20 ° (step S110), and the convex wart roller 102 is moved to the intermediate position. The transfer belt 12 is brought into contact (step S112), air ejection from the air nozzle 104 is started (step S114), and the wiping sponge 108 is set to a position where it abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the belt (step S116).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S118, and after the position (or predetermined mark) of the hole 92 is recognized by the belt position detection sensor 98, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed, and the same state is maintained until the predetermined time elapses. During this time, the cleaning residue (see FIG. 8A) is removed and collected. In step S118 of FIG. 12, when a predetermined time has elapsed and YES is determined, the process proceeds to step S120, the angle of the cleaning blade 52 is returned to the normal printing angle (45 °), the convex warp roller is separated (step S122), and air The ejection is stopped (step S124) and the wiping sponge 108 is separated (step S126).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S128, and the presence or absence of clogging of the hole 92 that has passed through the cleaning waste collection unit 32 is detected by the clogging detection sensor 114 shown in FIG. If it is determined in step S128 of FIG. 12 that the hole 92 is clogged (NO determination), the process proceeds to step S130. If the hole 92 that has passed through the cleaning waste collecting unit 32 is clogged, the intermediate transfer belt 12 is rotated once and the position of the hole 92 is recognized by the belt position detection sensor 98 (or recognition of a predetermined mark). ) Is determined (step S130). Further, the process of step S130 loops until the recognition by the belt position detection sensor 98 is obtained, and the detection signal of the belt position detection sensor 98 is monitored.

  In step S130, when the belt position detection sensor 98 detects the position (or predetermined mark) of the hole 92 (Yes determination), the process proceeds to the clogging processing mode (step S132), and the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is decreased. At the same time (step S134), the air ejection pressure is set to be increased. (Step S26).

  Then, the convex wart roller 102 is brought into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 12, the air ejection pressure from the air nozzle 104 is increased as compared with the previous cleaning process (step S136), and the steps from step S110 to step S126 are repeated. In this way, the steps from step S110 to step S136 are repeated until the hole 92 is not clogged.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S128 that the hole 92 is not clogged (YES determination), the process proceeds to step S140, and it is determined whether or not to end a predetermined printing process (printing job). When the printing process is continued (NO determination), the process proceeds to step S108, and a series of steps from step S108 to step S136 is executed. When the predetermined printing process is to be ended (YES determination), the process proceeds to a sequence at the time of falling (see FIG. 11) (step S142 in FIG. 12).

  According to the ink jet recording apparatus 10 configured as described above, the hole portion 92 having a large number of holes 90 as a blade cleaning region for removing residue attached to the cleaning blade 52 for cleaning the image forming surface 12A of the intermediate transfer belt 12. The cleaning blade 52 is cleaned each time the hole 90 provided in the intermediate transfer belt 12 comes on the cleaning blade 52. In addition, it is a simple and inexpensive configuration that is difficult to break down.

  Since the waste 95 removed from the cleaning blade 52 is not wiped off, but is cleaned or blown away with air, there is no need to replace a member for wiping off the waste 95 and there is no consumable replacement. Without losing productivity, you don't lose productivity.

  Since the cleaning blade 52 is cleaned without stopping printing, the productivity is not lowered, and the cleaning blade 52 is always cleaned, so that stable quality printing is possible.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is a main part configuration diagram of the cleaning unit 230 and the cleaning waste collection unit 232 of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. Note that, in the second embodiment, the same or similar parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  A plurality of concave holes (concave grooves) 290 are formed in a part or a plurality of portions of the intermediate transfer belt 212. Further, belt protrusions (not shown in FIG. 14 is provided with a reference numeral 291). The arrangement, number, amount, and the like of the concave holes (concave grooves) 290 provided in the intermediate transfer belt 212 are determined based on the same concept as the holes 90 described with reference to FIG. In addition, it is preferable that the depth of the concave hole (concave groove) 290 be 50% or more and 70% or less of the thickness of the intermediate transfer belt 212.

  The debris 95 that has entered the concave hole 290 is pressed against the belt protrusion on the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 212 by a debris extrusion roller 293 provided downstream of the cleaning blade 52 in the intermediate transfer belt conveyance direction. As the concave hole 290 expands due to the curvature of 293, the residue 95 emerges from the concave hole 290. The cleaning liquid is sprayed and washed by the cleaning liquid ejecting unit 251 for cleaning the concave holes, and the water is wiped off by the wiping roller 295.

  FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged view of the intermediate transfer belt 212. As shown in FIG. 14, a back sheet 297 (for example, PET) with a small amount of stretch is stretched on the inner peripheral surface 212B side of the intermediate transfer belt 212, and the blade cleaning area 231 is cut out as a whole. Note that the strength of the back sheet 297 is maintained because the ends of the back sheet 297 are connected as shown in FIG.

  The thickness of the belt protrusion 291 provided on the inner peripheral surface 212B of the intermediate transfer belt 212 is equal to or less than the thickness of the back sheet 297, and the belt protrusion 291 is equal to or less than the thickness of the back sheet 297. Since the ends are connected, the belt protrusion 291 is not pushed by the platen 54 when the cleaning blade 52 is cleaned. FIG. 14 illustrates an aspect in which the thickness of the belt protrusion 291 and the thickness of the back sheet 297 are the same.

  As shown in FIG. 13, a cleaning waste collection unit 232 is provided on the downstream side of the cleaning blade 52 in the intermediate transfer belt conveyance direction, and the cleaning waste collection unit 232 includes a waste extrusion roller 293. As shown in FIG. 15, the residue extrusion roller 293 enters the back sheet of the blade cleaning area 231. As shown in FIG. The roller 293 pushes the belt protrusion 291 toward the image forming surface 212 </ b> A of the intermediate transfer belt 212, and the residue 95 is raised from the recessed hole 290. Further, the curvature of the residue pushing roller 293 also helps, and the concave hole 290 further widens to facilitate pushing out the residue 95.

  FIG. 16 shows an urging member (spring) 293A for urging the squeezing roller 293 downward in FIG. 16 as a means for the squeezing roller 293 to press the belt protrusion 291.

  The residue 95 pushed out from the recessed hole 290 in this manner is washed away by the cleaning liquid ejected from the cleaning liquid ejecting part 251 (see FIG. 13) for cleaning the recessed hole, and recovered from the cleaning waste recovery part 232 by a hose not shown. It is collected in a BOX (not shown). The cleaning liquid recovered in the recovery BOX is filtered and reused to suppress the amount of waste liquid.

  Note that the cleaning liquid is also ejected from the cleaning liquid ejecting unit 50 for cleaning the belt upstream of the cleaning blade 52 in the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer belt, so that the concave hole 290 is wet with the cleaning liquid before the cleaning blade 52 is cleaned. When the residue 95 is taken out from the hole 290, the residue 95 is easily peeled off from the recessed hole 290.

  The cleaning liquid used in the cleaning waste collection unit 232 (the cleaning liquid applied to the cleaning liquid ejecting unit 251 for cleaning the concave holes) is the cleaning liquid for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 212 (the cleaning liquid applied to the cleaning liquid ejecting unit 50 for cleaning the belt). ) And the like (for example, pure water or a surfactant) may be used. Note that the water on the intermediate transfer belt 212 is removed by the wiping roller (sponge roller) 295 after the cleaning. Since the water accumulated on the wiping roller 295 is squeezed out by the squeezing roller 295A, the wiping roller 295 can always maintain the water retaining force.

  The cleaning liquid ejection and the detachment timing of the wiping roller 295 are performed by reading a mark (not shown) previously attached to the intermediate transfer belt 212 by the belt position detection sensor 298, and turning on / off based on the read result, so that useless cleaning liquid is taken out. This prevents the wiping roller 295 from reattaching dirt to the image forming surface 212A. It should be noted that when the apparatus is started, when it is lowered, when the JOB is completed, or when a predetermined time or more has passed since the apparatus is stopped, the intermediate transfer belt 212 is rotated once and the concave hole 290 is cleaned.

  In the second embodiment, the concave hole 290 is widened due to the structure, and the possibility of causing clogging due to cleaning liquid injection is extremely low, and a sensor (hole) for checking clogging of the hole 90 as in the first embodiment described above. The clogging detection sensor 114) need not be provided.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a sequence when the apparatus is started up and shut down in the second embodiment.

  When the start-up / fall-down sequence is started (step S200), first, the cleaning liquid injection unit 50 of the cleaning unit 230 shown in FIG. 13 starts to inject the cleaning liquid (step S202 in FIG. 17), and the cleaning blade 52 is normally printed. The angle (α = 45 °) is set (step S204), and the driving of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is started (step S206). That is, in steps S12 to S16, the cleaning process for the intermediate transfer belt 12 is executed.

  Next, in step S208, it is determined whether or not the position of the concave hole 290 has been recognized (or a predetermined mark has been recognized) by the belt position detection sensor 298. Until the recognition by the belt position detection sensor 298 is obtained, the process of step S208 loops, and the detection signal of the belt position detection sensor 298 is monitored.

  In step S208, when the belt position detection sensor 298 detects the position (or a predetermined mark) of the concave hole 290 (Yes determination), the cleaning blade 52 is laid at an angle of 20 ° (step S210), and the cleaning waste collection unit 232 The cleaning liquid is ejected from the cleaning liquid ejecting section 251 for cleaning the holes (step S212), and the wiping roller 295 is set (step S214).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S216, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the position (or predetermined mark) of the hole 290 is recognized by the belt position detection sensor 298 (the hole 290 is in the cleaning waste collection unit 232). It is determined whether or not the processing area has been passed), and the same state is maintained until a predetermined time has elapsed. During this time, cleaning residue (see FIG. 13) is removed and recovered. In step S216 in FIG. 17, when a predetermined time has elapsed and the determination is YES (when the hole 290 exits the processing area of the cleaning waste collection unit 232), the process proceeds to step S218, and the angle of the cleaning blade 52 is set to the normal printing angle ( (α = 45 °), and cleaning liquid injection from the cleaning liquid injection section 251 for cleaning the hole of the cleaning waste collection section 232 is stopped (step S219), and the wiping roller 295 is further separated from the intermediate transfer belt 212 ( In step S220, the intermediate transfer belt 212 is stopped (step S222) and the cleaning blade 52 is separated (step S224).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S226, and the spraying of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid spraying unit 50 of the cleaning unit 230 is stopped, and the start-up / falling sequence ends (step S228).

  FIG. 18 shows a cleaning sequence for the cleaning blade 52 during normal printing.

  When the normal printing sequence is started (step S300), first, the cleaning liquid is ejected from the cleaning liquid ejecting section 50 of the creeper section 230 shown in FIG. 13 (step S302 in FIG. 18), and the cleaning blade 52 is moved to the normal printing angle (step S302). α = 45 ° is set (step S304), and the driving of the intermediate transfer belt 12 is started (step S306). In this state, the normal printing process is performed, and a primary image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 12 based on the image data, and the primary image is transferred to the recording medium 14 through a transfer process. Thereafter, when the image forming area of the intermediate transfer belt 12 moves to the cleaning unit 230, the image forming area is subjected to a cleaning process.

  The belt position detection sensor 298 shown in FIG. 13 monitors the position of the concave hole 290 and determines whether or not the concave hole 290 has been recognized (or a predetermined mark has been recognized) (step S308 in FIG. 18). Until the recognition by the belt position detection sensor 298 is obtained, the process of step S308 loops, and the detection signal of the belt position detection sensor 298 is monitored.

  In step S308, when the belt position detection sensor 298 detects the position (or a predetermined mark) of the concave hole 290 (Yes determination), the cleaning blade 52 is laid at an angle of 20 ° (step S310), and the cleaning waste collection unit 232 The cleaning liquid spraying unit 251 for cleaning the holes starts spraying the cleaning liquid (step S312), and the wiping roller 295 is set (step S314).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S316, and after the belt position detection sensor 298 recognizes the position of the hole 290 (or a predetermined mark), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has passed (the hole 290 is in the cleaning waste collection unit 232). It is determined whether or not the processing area has been passed), and the same state is maintained until a predetermined time has elapsed. During this time, cleaning residue (see FIG. 13) is removed and recovered. In step S316 of FIG. 18, when a predetermined time has elapsed and the determination is YES (when the hole 290 exits the processing area of the cleaning waste collection unit 232), the process proceeds to step S318, and the angle of the cleaning blade 52 is set to the normal printing angle ( (α = 45 °), and cleaning liquid injection from the cleaning liquid injection unit 251 for cleaning the cleaning waste collection unit 232 is stopped (step S319), and the wiping roller 295 is further separated from the intermediate transfer belt 212 (step S319). In step S320, it is determined whether or not to end printing (step S322). That is, in step S322, when the next image data exists (NO determination), the normal printing process is continued (proceeding to step S308), and when the next image data does not exist (YES determination), The sequence proceeds to the raising sequence (see FIG. 17) (step S324).

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, even when a through hole cannot be formed in the intermediate transfer belt 212 due to problems such as strength, a similar configuration is realized using a non-through hole. can do.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 19 is a schematic configuration diagram of the ink jet recording apparatus 300 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of a part of the intermediate transfer drum 312.

  An ink jet recording apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 19 includes an intermediate transfer drum 312 instead of the intermediate transfer belt 12 of the ink jet recording apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and the intermediate transfer drum 312 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (arrow line C in FIG. 19). The ink is ejected from the heads 322Y, 322C, 322M, and 322K to form a primary image on the image forming surface (outer peripheral surface) 312A of the intermediate transfer drum 312, and the transfer unit 326. The primary image is transferred and recorded on a recording medium 314 (the conveyance direction is indicated by symbol B).

  That is, the inkjet recording apparatus 300 includes a processing liquid application unit 316 that applies a processing liquid to the intermediate transfer drum 312, a drying unit 318 that dries the intermediate transfer drum 312 after the application of the processing liquid, and an intermediate transfer drum 312 that has undergone the drying process. The printing unit 322 including the heads 322Y, 322C, 322M, and 322K for ejecting ink thereon, and the primary image formed by the ink ejected from the printing unit 322 are transferred from the intermediate transfer drum 312 to the recording medium 314. The transfer unit 326 including the transfer roller 338, the peeling unit 340 for peeling the recording medium 314 after transfer from the intermediate transfer drum 312, and the ink and processing liquid remaining on the intermediate transfer drum 312 after the transfer are scraped by the cleaning blade 352. The waste collected from the cleaning unit 330 and the cleaning blade 352 And cleaning debris collection section 332 to yield includes a squeeze roller 395A for recovering the washing liquid from the sponge roller 395 and the sponge roller 395 wipe the intermediate transfer drum 312 wipe hung washing liquid on the image forming surface 312A of the.

  The intermediate transfer drum 312 has a hollow structure, and a plurality of holes (drum holes) 390 are formed in a part (one place) or a plurality of parts (plural places) of the intermediate transfer drum 312 as shown in FIG. Yes. When the portion where the drum hole 390 is formed by the rotation of the intermediate transfer drum 312 passes over the cleaning blade 352, the residue 305 accumulated on the cleaning blade 352 enters the drum hole 390.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 21, when the portion where the intermediate transfer drum 312 is rotated and the drum hole 390 is formed passes through the cleaning waste collection portion 332, the cleaning blade 352 is located downstream of the intermediate transfer drum moving direction. The residue pushing member 310 provided inside the drum hole 390 of the intermediate transfer drum 312 is pushed by the residue pushing roller 393 provided on the inner periphery of the intermediate transfer drum 312, and the cleaning fluid is ejected by the cleaning fluid ejecting unit 351 for drum hole. The waste 305 is washed away from the drum hole 390 and recovered in the recovery BOX 306. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, on the downstream side of the cleaning waste collection unit 332 in the intermediate transfer drum moving direction, a sponge roller (wiping member) 395 for wiping the cleaning liquid on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 312 and liquid from the sponge roller 395 are supplied. A squeezing roller 395A for collection is provided.

  The arrangement, number, amount, and the like of the drum holes 390 formed in the intermediate transfer drum 312 are determined based on the same concept as in the first and second embodiments described above. Similarly to the first and second embodiments, when the cleaning blade 352 is cleaned, the cleaning blade 352 can be further inclined by tilting the cleaning blade 352 by a predetermined angle.

  The residue extrusion material 310 and the drum hole 390 are processed with a clearance fit with high precision so that there are few gaps (for example, H8 hole and g6 axis). In this way, the waste extrusion material 310 and the drum hole 390 are configured without a gap, thereby preventing waste and cleaning liquid from entering the intermediate transfer drum 312. Further, the arrangement of the cleaning liquid spraying unit for drum 350, the cleaning liquid spraying unit for drum hole 351, the cleaning blade 352, and the cleaning waste collection unit 332 is provided below the center of the intermediate transfer drum 312, so that the waste and cleaning liquid are intermediately transferred by gravity. The structure is difficult to enter the drum 312.

  A push rod 310 </ b> A is attached to the residue extrusion material 310 and protrudes inward from the inner surface of the intermediate transfer drum 312. Further, the residue pushing material 310 is waiting on the inner side of the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 312 by the tension spring 311. When the push rod 310A is positioned directly below the residue pushing roller 393 due to the rotation of the intermediate transfer drum 312, the residue pushing roller 393 pushes the push rod 310A toward the outside of the intermediate transfer drum 312, and one end thereof is the intermediate transfer drum. The extension spring 311 fixed to the inner surface of the 312 is extended, and the residue pushing material 310 is pushed out to the surface side of the intermediate transfer drum 312, so that the residue 305 is also pushed out from the drum hole 390.

  Further, since the cleaning liquid is ejected from the drum cleaning liquid ejecting section 350 (see FIG. 20) on the upstream side of the cleaning blade 352 in the intermediate transfer drum moving direction, the drum hole 390 is wet with the cleaning liquid before the cleaning blade 352 is cleaned. When the residue 305 is taken out from the drum hole 390, the residue 305 is easily peeled off.

  Further, the extruded waste 305 is washed away by the cleaning liquid injection by the drum hole cleaning liquid injection unit 351, and is recovered from the cleaning waste recovery unit 332 to the recovery BOX 306 by a hose not shown. The recovered cleaning liquid can be filtered and reused to reduce the amount of waste liquid.

  As the cleaning liquid, the same cleaning liquid as that used for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt in an aspect in which the intermediate transfer belt is applied can be used, and examples thereof include pure water and a surfactant. In this example, similarly to the first and second embodiments described above, the water on the surface of the intermediate transfer drum 312 is removed by the sponge roller 395 after the intermediate transfer drum 312 is cleaned. Since the water accumulated in the sponge roller 395 is squeezed out by the squeezing roller 395A, the water retention force of the sponge roller 395 is always kept in a preferable state.

  The cleaning liquid ejection and the removal timing of the sponge roller 395 in the cleaning waste collection unit 332 are turned on / off based on the reading result of a mark previously attached to the intermediate transfer drum 312 by a drum position detection sensor (not shown). It is possible to prevent the dirt from adhering again to the image forming surface 312A from the sponge roller 395 without taking it out.

  When the apparatus is started up, at the time of shutdown, at the end of JOB, or when the apparatus is in a stopped state for a predetermined time or more, each part is controlled so that the intermediate transfer drum 312 is rotated once and the drum hole 390 is cleaned.

  In addition, since all the waste in the drum hole 390 is pushed out of the drum hole 390 due to the structure and the possibility of clogging in the drum hole 390 due to the injection of the cleaning liquid is extremely low, in this example, the first implementation As in the embodiment, the sensor (hole clogging detection sensor 114) for checking the defective removal of the hole 90 may not be provided.

  That is, in the third embodiment, the position of the concave hole 390 is detected using the sensor 398, and each part is controlled based on the detection result. Therefore, the control sequence described in the second embodiment can be applied. .

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the cleaning blade 352 can be suitably cleaned even when a drum shape is applied to the intermediate transfer member.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described. In the fourth embodiment, a convex step (convex step) 490 is provided instead of the hole 90, the concave hole (concave groove) 290, and the drum hole 390 of the first to third embodiments.

  That is, a part (one place) or a plurality of parts (plural places) of the image forming surface 412A of the intermediate transfer belt 412 shown in FIGS. 22 (a) and 22 (b) are projected in the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 412. A step 490 is provided, and when the convex step 490 comes on the cleaning blade 452 due to the conveyance of the intermediate transfer belt 412 (conveyance direction is indicated by an arrow line A), the cleaning blade 452 is made to be substantially horizontal with the intermediate transfer belt 412. The scrap 495 attached to the cleaning blade 452 is scraped off by the convex step 490.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the scrap 495 scraped off is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 412 by the cleaning liquid ejection by the convex step cleaning liquid ejecting section 451 provided on the downstream side of the cleaning blade 452 in the intermediate transfer belt conveyance direction.

  FIG. 22A illustrates a state in which the image forming surface 412A of the intermediate transfer belt 412 is cleaned by the cleaning blade 452. As shown in FIG. 22A, when the image forming surface 412A of the intermediate transfer belt 412 is cleaned, the cleaning blade 452 is inclined by 45 ° from the horizontal direction (a direction parallel to the image forming surface 412A of the intermediate transfer belt 412). The cleaning blade 452 scrapes off the residue 495 such as ink adhering to the image forming surface 412A while the cleaning liquid is ejected from the belt cleaning liquid ejecting section 450 onto the image forming surface 412A.

  FIG. 22B illustrates a state where the cleaning blade 452 is being cleaned. As shown in FIG. 22B, a convex step 490 is provided in a part or a plurality of parts of the intermediate transfer belt 412 so as to cover the entire width of the intermediate transfer belt 412, and the upper surface of the cleaning blade 452 is conveyed by the conveyance of the intermediate transfer belt 412. The cleaning blade 452 is moved horizontally with the intermediate transfer belt 412 in accordance with the timing at which the convex step comes to, and the cleaning blade 452 is pressed against the convex step 490 by a spring (not shown), and the belt is conveyed in this state. The residue 495 attached to the cleaning blade 452 is scraped off by the convex step 490.

  Although the convex step 490 may be provided at one place, the cleaning blade 452 can be more reliably cleaned by providing it at a plurality of places in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 412. As shown in FIG. 23, the residue 495 scraped off from the cleaning blade 452 by the convex step 490 is washed away by the convex step cleaning liquid ejecting unit 451 provided on the downstream side of the cleaning blade 452 in the intermediate transfer belt conveyance direction.

  In this example, the timing for moving the cleaning blade 452 and the on / off timing of cleaning liquid injection may be controlled in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Further, a method for collecting the cleaning liquid into the recovery BOX, a method for reusing the collected cleaning liquid, and a method for wiping the cleaning liquid remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 412 after collecting the residue 495 are configured in the same manner as in the second embodiment. Good.

  Furthermore, also in this example, when the apparatus is started up, at the time of shutdown, at the end of printing JOB, or when a predetermined time has passed in the apparatus stopped state, the intermediate transfer belt 412 is made to make one turn and the convex step of the intermediate transfer belt 412 is made. 490 is configured to perform the cleaning operation.

  In this example as well, the possibility of the residue 495 remaining on the convex step 490 is extremely low because of the structure. There is no need to provide a sensor (hole clogging detection sensor 114) for checking the defective removal as in the first embodiment. That is, the control sequence described in the second embodiment can be applied.

  In this example, when the convex step 490 passes through the transfer unit 426, the transfer roller 438 is moved so that the convex step 490 and the transfer roller 438 do not contact each other.

  Here, the movement control of the transfer roller 438 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The transfer roller separation mechanism 404 shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B includes a compression spring 440 that applies a pressing force for pressing the transfer roller 438 against the intermediate transfer belt 412 (heat roller 436), and rotation of the transfer roller 438. In order to move the shaft 442 up and down, an eccentric cam 444 provided on the upper portion of the rotation shaft 442 of the transfer roller 438 is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 24A, when the eccentric cam 444 is rotated so that the minor axis direction of the eccentric cam 444 is parallel to the vertical direction, the urging force of the compression spring 440 causes the rotation shaft 442 of the transfer roller 438 to rotate. Acts on the intermediate transfer belt 412 (upward in FIG. 24A) to press the transfer roller 438 against the intermediate transfer belt 412 (heat roller 436).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 24B, when the convex step 490 is detected by the sensor 402 disposed upstream of the transfer roller 438 in the intermediate transfer belt conveyance direction (when the convex step 490 moves onto the transfer roller 438). ), By rotating the eccentric cam 444 so that the major axis direction of the eccentric cam 444 is parallel to the vertical direction of the eccentric cam 444, the compression spring 440 is compressed and the transfer roller 438 rotates. By moving the shaft 442 in the downward direction in FIG. 24B, the transfer roller 438 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 412 by the transfer roller separation mechanism 404. As described above, when the convex step 490 passes between the heat roller 436 and the transfer roller 438, the heat roller 436 and the transfer roller 438 are separated from each other, so that the convex step 490 is smoothly held without being sandwiched between the transfer rollers 438. Realizes belt transport.

  According to the fourth embodiment configured as described above, a convex step 490 having a length equal to the width of the cleaning blade 452 or a length longer than the length of the cleaning blade 452 on a part of the image forming surface 412A of the intermediate transfer belt 412. Scraping off the residue adhering to the cleaning blade 452 by bringing the convex step 490 into contact with the cleaning blade 452, and further removing the residue 495 adhering to the convex step 490 by the cleaning liquid ejected from the convex step cleaning liquid ejecting unit 451. Since it is washed away, the residue adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 412 and the residue adhering to the cleaning blade 452 can be reliably removed while the intermediate transfer belt 412 rotates once.

[Adjustment of coagulation treatment agent]
An adjustment example of the aggregation treatment liquid used in the first to fourth embodiments described above is shown below.

(Example of treatment liquid 1)
A treatment liquid (Example 1) was prepared with the composition shown in [Table 1]. As a result of measuring the physical properties of the treatment liquid (Example 1) obtained by this adjustment, the pH was 3.6, the surface tension was 28.0 mN / m, and the viscosity was 3.1 mPa · s.

(処理液の例２)
更に［表２］に示す組成にて界面活性剤を添加した処理液（例２）を調整した。この調整により得られた処理液(例２)の物性値を測定した結果、ｐＨ３．５、表面張力１８．０ｍＮ／ｍ、粘度１０．１ｍＰａ・ｓであった。

(Example of treatment liquid 2)
Furthermore, the processing liquid (Example 2) which added surfactant with the composition shown in [Table 2] was adjusted. The physical properties of the treatment liquid (Example 2) obtained by this adjustment were measured, and as a result, the pH was 3.5, the surface tension was 18.0 mN / m, and the viscosity was 10.1 mPa · s.

［表２］で用いたフッ素系界面活性剤１の化学式を［化１］に示す。

The chemical formula of the fluorosurfactant 1 used in [Table 2] is shown in [Chemical Formula 1].

〔インクの調整〕
上述した第１〜第４実施形態で用いるインクの調整例を以下に示す。

[Ink adjustment]
Examples of adjusting the ink used in the first to fourth embodiments described above are shown below.

(Polymer dispersion) Preparation of cyan ink In a reaction vessel, 6 parts by mass of styrene, 11 parts by mass of stearyl methacrylate, 4 parts by mass of styrene macromer AS-6 (manufactured by Toa Gosei), 5 parts by mass of Plenmer PP-500 (manufactured by NOF Corporation) Then, 5 parts by mass of methacrylic acid, 0.05 part by mass of 2-mercaptoethanol, and 24 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone were prepared.

  On the other hand, 14 parts by mass of styrene, 24 parts by mass of stearyl methacrylate, 9 parts by mass of styrene macromer AS-6 (manufactured by Toa Gosei), 9 parts by mass of Plenmer PP-500 (manufactured by NOF Corporation), 10 parts by mass of methacrylic acid, 2 -A mixed solution was prepared by adding 0.13 parts by weight of mercaptoethanol, 56 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone, and 1.2 parts by weight of 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile).

  While stirring the mixed solution in the reaction vessel under a nitrogen atmosphere, the temperature was raised to 75 ° C., and the mixed solution in the dropping funnel was gradually dropped over 1 hour. After 2 hours from the end of the dropwise addition, a solution prepared by dissolving 1.2 parts by weight of 2,2′-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) in 12 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone was added dropwise over 3 hours, and further at 75 ° C. for 2 hours. Aging was carried out at 80 ° C. for 2 hours to obtain a polymer dispersant solution.

  A part of the obtained polymer dispersant solution was isolated by removing the solvent, and the obtained solid content was diluted to 0.1% by mass with tetrahydrofuran to obtain a high-speed GPC (gel permeation chromatography) HLC- Three TSKgel SuperHZM-H, TSKgel SuperHZ4000, and TSKgel SuperHZ2000 were connected in series with 8220GPC, and the weight average molecular weight was 25,000 in terms of polystyrene.

  5.0 g of the obtained polymer dispersant in terms of solid content, 10.0 g of cyan pigment Pigment Blue 15: 3 (manufactured by Dainichi Seika), 40.0 g of methyl ethyl ketone, 8.0 g of 1 mol / L sodium hydroxide, ion-exchanged water 82.0 g and 300 mm of 0.1 mm zirconia beads were added to the vessel and dispersed with a ready mill disperser (manufactured by Imex) at 1000 rpm for 6 hours. The obtained dispersion was concentrated under reduced pressure using an evaporator until methyl ethyl ketone was sufficiently distilled off, and concentrated until the pigment concentration was 10%. The resulting cyan dispersion had a pigment particle size of 77 nm.

  Ink was prepared using cyan dispersion so as to have the composition shown in [Table 3]. After the preparation, coarse particles were removed with a 5 μm filter to prepare cyan ink (C1-1). As a result of measuring physical properties of the obtained cyan ink C1-1, it was found that the pH was 9.0, the surface tension was 32.9 mN / m, and the viscosity was 3.9 mPa · s.

上記と同様にして、マゼンタ、イエロー、ブラックのインクも調液した。

In the same manner as described above, magenta, yellow, and black inks were also prepared.

[Additional polymer]
Particles such as polymer resin are appropriately added to the treatment liquid (aggregation treatment agent) and ink described above. It is desirable to add particles having a particle diameter of 1 to 5 μm and a melting point of 60 to 120 ° C. for fixing the coloring material and improving the transfer to the processing liquid, and the ink has a particle diameter of 1 μm or less and a glass point transfer point of 40 to 60 for fixing the image. It is preferable to add 1 to 5% of particles at ° C. An example is shown in [Table 4].

上記〔表４〕中Ｔ_ｇはガラス転移点、Ｔ_ｍは融点である。

In the above [Table 4], T _g is the glass transition point and T _m is the melting point.

  Note that the composition of the aggregating treatment liquid and ink described above is merely an example, and other compositions can be applied.

  In this example, the two-liquid aggregation method in which the ink (dot) is fixed on the intermediate transfer member by the reaction between the aggregation treatment liquid and the ink is exemplified. However, energy is transmitted through heat, radiation, or the like without using the aggregation treatment liquid. It is also applicable to a method of fixing ink (dots) on the intermediate transfer member by irradiating.

  In this example, a transfer recording type ink jet recording apparatus is illustrated, but the present invention can also be applied to a transport medium that transports a recording medium in an ink jet recording apparatus that directly draws on a recording medium. Further, the present invention forms an image by forming a predetermined pattern (mask pattern, wiring pattern, etc.) on the substrate by ejecting a liquid (resin solution, resist solution, etc.) onto the substrate conveyed by the conveyance medium. The present invention can also be applied to a conveyance medium in the apparatus, a conveyance medium in a liquid ejection apparatus that ejects liquid onto a substrate conveyed by the conveyance medium, and the like.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main part around a printing unit of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. Plane perspective view showing structural example of head Plane perspective view showing another structural example of the head Sectional drawing which follows the 5-5 line in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the nozzle arrangement of the head shown in FIG. 1 is a principal block diagram showing the system configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the cleaning part and cleaning waste collection | recovery part which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. Schematic diagram explaining the cleaning of the intermediate transfer belt with a blade Plan view showing the structure of the intermediate transfer belt Flow chart showing the sequence when starting up and shutting down the device Flow chart showing sequence during normal printing The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the cleaning part and cleaning waste collection | recovery part which concern on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Enlarged view of the intermediate transfer belt shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the structure of the intermediate transfer belt shown in FIG. Schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning waste collection unit shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows the sequence at the time of apparatus starting and shutdown in 2nd Embodiment of this invention The flowchart which shows the sequence at the time of normal printing in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Schematic configuration diagram of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Enlarged view of the cleaning section shown in FIG. FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the cleaning waste collection unit shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the concept of the cleaning of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. Schematic block diagram of the cleaning part of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. The enlarged view of the transfer part of the inkjet recording device which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,100,300 ... Inkjet recording device 14,314 ... Recording medium 22,322 ... Printing part 12,212,412 ... Intermediate transfer belt 26,326,426 ... Transfer part 30,230,330 ... Cleaning Part, 32, 232, 332 ... cleaning waste collecting part, 52, 352, 452 ... cleaning blade, 90 ... hole, 98, 114, 398 ... sensor, 102 ... convex wart roller, 104 ... air nozzle, 251, 351, 451 ... cleaning liquid Injecting portion, 290 ... concave hole, 291 ... belt projection, 293, 393 ... debris extrusion roller, 295, 395 ... wiping roller, 310 ... debris extrusion material, 312 ... intermediate transfer drum, 490 ... convex step

Claims (24)

A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body in which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head and wound around three or more rollers;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
The transfer means is downstream in the transport direction of the transport means, is upstream of the transport direction of the transport means in the head, and is disposed at a position where at least one of the rollers is disposed between the head, A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer member, have a structure for removing cleaning debris adhering said by the conveying means contacting said cleaning blade while conveying the intermediate transfer member to said cleaning blade,
The structure for removing the cleaning residue is at least one of a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member. image forming apparatus, wherein a is provided.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning waste collecting unit that collects the cleaning waste accumulated in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side of the cleaning blade in the transport direction of the cleaning blade. . A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer body is provided with a structure for removing cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer body.
The structure for removing the cleaning residue is at least one of a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member. Is provided,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste, downstream of the cleaning blade in the transport direction of the transport means.   When removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade, the angle of the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller than that when the image forming surface is cleaned by the cleaning blade. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an angle changing unit that changes the angle. A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer body is provided with a structure for removing cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer body.
The structure for removing the cleaning residue is at least one of a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the intermediate transfer member. Is provided,
When removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade, the angle of the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller than that when the image forming surface is cleaned by the cleaning blade. An image forming apparatus comprising angle changing means for changing an angle. Comprising a position detecting means for detecting the position of the structure to remove the cleaning debris on the conveying path of the intermediate transfer member,
The angle changing means, the claims based on the detection result of said position detecting means, the structure for removing the cleaning scum, characterized in that tilting the cleaning blade in accordance with the timing which is located in the cleaning area by the cleaning blade The image forming apparatus according to 4 or 5 . A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body in which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head and wound around three or more rollers;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
The transfer means is downstream in the transport direction of the transport means, is upstream of the transport direction of the transport means in the head, and is disposed at a position where at least one of the rollers is disposed between the head, A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer member has a structure in which the cleaning blade attached to the cleaning blade is removed by contacting the cleaning blade while the intermediate transfer member is conveyed by the conveying unit,
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least a through-hole provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the cleaning means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning waste collecting means is provided with a convex shape that can be inserted into the through-hole, and the convex shape is inserted into the through-hole from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member to the inside of the through-hole. images forming device you comprising a pushing member for pushing the cleaning Kas. A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer body is provided with a structure for removing cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer body.
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least a through-hole provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning waste collecting means is provided with a convex shape that can be inserted into the through-hole, and the convex shape is inserted into the through-hole from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member to the inside of the through-hole. images forming device you comprising a pushing member for pushing the cleaning Kas. A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer body is provided with a structure for removing cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer body.
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least a through-hole provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
When removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade, the angle of the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller than that when the image forming surface is cleaned by the cleaning blade. An angle changing means for changing the angle;
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning waste collecting means is provided with a convex shape that can be inserted into the through-hole, and the convex shape is inserted into the through-hole from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member to the inside of the through-hole. images forming device you comprising a pushing member for pushing the cleaning Kas. The cleaning debris collecting means, claim 7, characterized in that it comprises an air jet means for blowing air into said through hole from the opposite side of the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer body blow cleaning debris of the through hole 10. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 9 above. Clogging detection means for detecting the presence or absence of clogging in the through hole after the cleaning dregs recovery by the cleaning dregs recovery means;
When the clogging of the through hole is detected by the clogging detection means, the through hole in which clogging has been detected is moved to the position of the cleaning waste collection means, and the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer member is normal A transport control means for controlling the transport means so as to be smaller than that during image recording;
An air injection out control means for controlling the air injection detecting means so as to be larger than normal pressure of air blown into the through hole,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising: A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body in which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head and wound around three or more rollers;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
The transfer means is downstream in the transport direction of the transport means, is upstream of the transport direction of the transport means in the head, and is disposed at a position where at least one of the rollers is disposed between the head, A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer member has a structure in which the cleaning blade attached to the cleaning blade is removed by contacting the cleaning blade while the intermediate transfer member is conveyed by the conveying unit,
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least one of a concave hole and a concave groove provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning waste collecting means includes an extruding member that pushes the intermediate transfer member from the side opposite to the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member to push out the cleaning residue in a structure for removing the cleaning residue. be that images forming device. A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer body is provided with a structure for removing cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer body.
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least one of a concave hole and a concave groove provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning waste collecting means includes an extruding member that pushes the intermediate transfer member from the side opposite to the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member to push out the cleaning residue in a structure for removing the cleaning residue. be that images forming device. A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer body is provided with a structure for removing cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer body.
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least one of a concave hole and a concave groove provided over a length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
When removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade, the angle of the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller than that when the image forming surface is cleaned by the cleaning blade. An angle changing means for changing the angle;
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning waste collecting means includes an extruding member that pushes the intermediate transfer member from the side opposite to the image forming surface of the intermediate transfer member to push out the cleaning residue in a structure for removing the cleaning residue. be that images forming device. Convex protrusions corresponding to the shape of the structure for removing the cleaning residue are provided on the opposite side of the structure for removing the cleaning residue of the intermediate transfer member,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the pushing member pushes out the cleaning residue in a structure that presses the convex protrusion to remove the cleaning residue. The cleaning debris collecting means, claims 1 2, characterized in that it comprises a washing liquid injection means for washing away the cleaning debris attached to the structure to remove the cleaning debris by spraying a cleaning liquid to the structure to remove the cleaning Kas The image forming apparatus according to any one of 15 . The cleaning debris collecting means to claim 16, further comprising a cleaning solution removal means for removing the cleaning liquid adhering to the periphery of the structure to remove the cleaning liquid and the cleaning debris attached to the structure to remove the cleaning Kas The image forming apparatus described. The cleaning debris collecting means, on the basis of the detection result of the position detecting means for detecting the position of the structure to remove the cleaning debris on the conveying path of the intermediate transfer member, the structure for removing the cleaning dregs the cleaning solution spray means at the moment that located in the cleaning liquid injection region by while jetting a cleaning liquid, the said structure to remove the cleaning dregs at the timing located in the cleaning liquid removal area by the cleaning liquid removing unit so as to remove the washing liquid cleaning solution spray 18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising a cleaning control unit that controls the cleaning unit and the cleaning liquid removing unit. A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body in which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head and wound around three or more rollers;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
The transfer means is downstream in the transport direction of the transport means, is upstream of the transport direction of the transport means in the head, and is disposed at a position where at least one of the rollers is disposed between the head, A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer member has a structure in which the cleaning blade attached to the cleaning blade is removed by contacting the cleaning blade while the intermediate transfer member is conveyed by the conveying unit,
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning debris collecting means is injected to the cleaning debris images forming device you comprising the cleaning solution spray means for washing away the cleaning debris attached to the structure to remove the cleaning liquid to the structure to remove the cleaning Kas . A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer body is provided with a structure for removing cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer body.
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning debris collecting means is injected to the cleaning debris images forming device you comprising the cleaning solution spray means for washing away the cleaning debris attached to the structure to remove the cleaning liquid to the structure to remove the cleaning Kas . A head for ejecting ink;
An intermediate transfer body on which a primary image is formed by ink ejected from the head;
Conveying means for conveying the intermediate transfer member in a predetermined conveying direction;
Transfer means for transferring and recording a primary image formed on the intermediate transfer member on a recording medium;
A cleaning blade for cleaning an image forming surface on which a primary image of the intermediate transfer body after the transfer recording is formed;
With
The intermediate transfer body is provided with a structure for removing cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade by bringing the cleaning blade into contact with the image forming surface while transporting the intermediate transfer body.
The structure for removing the cleaning residue includes at least a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member,
When removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade, the angle of the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller than that when the image forming surface is cleaned by the cleaning blade. An angle changing means for changing the angle;
A cleaning waste collecting means for collecting the cleaning waste collected in the structure for removing the cleaning waste on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transport means of the cleaning blade;
The cleaning debris collecting means is injected to the cleaning debris images forming device you comprising the cleaning solution spray means for washing away the cleaning debris attached to the structure to remove the cleaning liquid to the structure to remove the cleaning Kas . Cleaning a cleaning blade for cleaning the intermediate transfer member in an image forming apparatus for transferring the primary image to a recording medium after ink is ejected from the head onto the intermediate transfer member to form a primary image on the intermediate transfer member. A method,
The intermediate transfer member has a structure wound around three or more rollers,
The cleaning blade is downstream in the transport direction of the intermediate transfer member at a position where the primary image is transferred and recorded on a recording medium, upstream in the transport direction of the intermediate transfer member, and Arranged at a position between which at least one of the rollers is arranged,
The intermediate transfer member is provided with at least one of a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. A structure for removing the cleaning residue is provided on the image forming surface,
Wherein while the intermediate transfer body is conveyed, the contacting the cleaning blade structure for removing the cleaning debris, cleaning method of cleaning blade and removing the cleaning debris adhering to the cleaning blade. Cleaning a cleaning blade for cleaning the intermediate transfer member in an image forming apparatus for transferring the primary image to a recording medium after ink is ejected from the head onto the intermediate transfer member to form a primary image on the intermediate transfer member. A method,
The intermediate transfer member is provided with at least one of a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. A structure for removing the cleaning residue is provided on the image forming surface,
A structure for pre-removing KiKiyoshi scavenging Kas, said contacting and cleaning blade, and removing the cleaning debris adhering to the cleaning blade by the structure for removing the cleaning debris,
A cleaning blade cleaning method, wherein after the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade is removed, the cleaning residue collected in the structure for removing the cleaning residue is collected. Cleaning a cleaning blade for cleaning the intermediate transfer member in an image forming apparatus for transferring the primary image to a recording medium after ink is ejected from the head onto the intermediate transfer member to form a primary image on the intermediate transfer member. A method,
The intermediate transfer member is provided with at least one of a through hole, a concave hole, a concave groove, and a convex step provided over the length of the cleaning blade in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer member. A structure for removing the cleaning residue is provided on the image forming surface,
Before and structure to remove KiKiyoshi scavenging Kas, by contacting, with the cleaning blade, to remove the cleaning debris adhering to the cleaning blade,
When removing the cleaning residue adhering to the cleaning blade, the angle of the cleaning blade and the image forming surface is smaller than that when the image forming surface is cleaned by the cleaning blade. A cleaning method for a cleaning blade, wherein the angle is changed.

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