JP2002283555A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To record an image suited to the user's taste by changing the glossiness according to the type of image to be recorded. A recording head that ejects ink that is cured by light, an intermediate transfer body that temporarily holds the ink that is ejected from the recording head, and transfers the ink to a recording medium, and is disposed in the intermediate transfer body. A first light irradiating device 3 for irradiating the cured ink with light.
In addition to the light irradiating device 3, a second light irradiating device 6 for irradiating a desired place with light for curing the ink at a desired timing
Or one or more of them.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an indirect transfer type recording apparatus using an ink which is cured by light, and more particularly to a recording apparatus having means for controlling the glossiness of a transferred image in accordance with the picture pattern of the image. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional recording apparatus having a recording head of an ink jet type or the like, since recording is performed directly on a recording medium, deformation of the recording medium (cockling or the like) deteriorates the landing accuracy of the ink. The recording dots become large due to bleeding, and high-definition (20
(At least 00 dpi), it was difficult to form a clear image.

As means for solving this problem, various methods have been proposed in which after high-precision recording is performed on an intermediate transfer member, the viscosity of the ink is increased by ultraviolet light or heat to transfer the ink to a recording medium. JP-A-1-133746 discloses such a transfer type recording apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a conventional recording apparatus. As shown in FIG. 5, a conventional recording apparatus includes a recording head 101 for discharging a photocurable ink, and an optically transparent cylindrical intermediate transfer body 102 for temporarily holding the ink discharged from the recording head 101. And an intermediate transfer member disposed in the intermediate transfer member 102
A light irradiation device 103 that supplies light that causes a curing action to the ink on 102, a transfer roller 104 that presses the recording medium against the intermediate transfer member 102, and an intermediate transfer member 1 that has not been transferred to the recording medium
And cleaning means 105 for removing the ink on 02. Recording with the recording apparatus having such a configuration is performed in the following order.

Prior to the start of recording, the light irradiation device 103 is driven to emit light having an ink curing action. Recording head 101
Is to eject ink while moving in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium, print one line on the intermediate transfer body 102 by serial scanning, and then stop at a predetermined location.

After the recording of one line, the intermediate transfer member 102
Is moved by a predetermined amount in the transport direction indicated by the arrow so that the recording portion of the next line faces the recording head 101, and recording is performed in the same manner. During this printing, light from the light irradiating device 103 is applied to the recording portion of the intermediate transfer member 102 opposite to the recording head 101, and the ink adhered on the intermediate transfer member 102 is combined by a curing reaction of the ink. This prevents defects (beading, bleeding) on the image that occur.

While the recording of the serial scan is continued, the ink recorded on the intermediate transfer member 102 is gradually irradiated with the light from the light irradiating device 103 while reaching the transfer roller 104, so that the ink gradually becomes viscous. And the viscosity is adjusted to an appropriate viscosity during transfer. The ink on the intermediate transfer member 102 that has reached the transfer roller 104 is transferred to a recording medium, and the recording is completed.

After the transfer of the ink, the ink remaining on the intermediate transfer member 102 is removed by the cleaning means 105.
Thus, the intermediate transfer member 102 is cleaned, and preparation for the next recording is completed.

[0009]

However, in the above prior art, the image transferred to the recording medium has almost the same gloss over the entire surface. However, it is generally said that black characters are preferably matte, graphics are semi-gloss, and photographic images are preferably high gloss, and it is desired to change the gloss according to the type of image to be recorded. I have.

It is an object of the present invention to record an image that meets the user's preference by changing the gloss according to the type of image to be recorded.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a typical configuration of the present invention is a recording means for discharging ink which is cured by light, and a method for temporarily storing the ink discharged from the recording means. In a recording apparatus having an intermediate transfer unit for holding and transferring the ink to a recording medium, and a first light irradiation unit for irradiating the intermediate transfer unit with light for curing the ink, in addition to the first light irradiation unit, a desired light One or more second light irradiating means for irradiating the place with light for curing the ink at a desired timing are provided.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a basic configuration of a recording apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a second light irradiation device 6.

(Structure of Recording Apparatus) As shown in FIG. 1, the recording apparatus of the present invention temporarily stores a recording head 1 for discharging photocurable ink and ink discharged by the recording head 1 as recording means. An intermediate transfer body 2 as an optically transparent cylindrical intermediate transfer means to be held, and a first light which is provided in the intermediate transfer body 2 and supplies light which causes a curing action to ink on the intermediate transfer body 2. First light irradiation device 3 as irradiation means
A transfer roller 4 for pressing the recording medium 7 against the intermediate transfer body 2 to transfer the ink on the intermediate transfer body 2 onto the recording medium 7; and removing the ink remaining on the intermediate transfer body 2 after the transfer of the ink. Cleaning means 5 for cleaning.
The cleaning unit 5 includes an elastic cleaning blade 5a that counter-contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer body 2;
A rake sheet 5b.

Further, the recording apparatus includes a second light irradiating means provided between the recording head 1 and the transfer roller 4.
It has a light irradiation device 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the second light irradiating device 6 is an array device (for example, an LED device array) in which a large number of light emitting elements 6b are arranged on a substrate 6a. Control is performed freely, and light can be emitted at a desired location at a desired timing.

(Structure of Recording Means) The recording means records ink on the recording medium transported by the transport means. As a recording unit in this apparatus, an ink jet recording system for discharging ink from the recording head 1 for recording is used. That is, the recording head 1 has a fine liquid ejection port (orifice), a liquid path, an energy operation section provided in a part of the liquid path, and an energy for generating a droplet forming energy to act on the liquid in the operation section. Generating means.

As an energy generating means for generating such energy, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element or the like, an electromagnetic wave such as a laser is irradiated to generate heat, and droplets are discharged by the action of the generated heat. There are a recording method using an energy generating means, and a recording method using an energy generating means for discharging a liquid by heating a liquid by an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistor.

Among them, a recording head used in an ink jet recording method in which a liquid is discharged by thermal energy has a liquid discharge port (orifice) for discharging a recording droplet to form a discharge droplet at a high density. Since they can be arranged, high-resolution recording can be performed. Among them, a recording head using an electrothermal transducer as an energy generating means is advantageous because it can be easily made compact, easily mounted at a high density, and inexpensively manufactured.

In this embodiment, the ink is ejected by energizing the electrothermal transducer in accordance with a recording signal, and utilizing the film boiling caused by the thermal energy to grow and shrink bubbles generated in the ink. The recording is performed by discharging the ink from the discharge port.

(Operation of Recording Apparatus) Prior to the start of recording, the first light irradiation device 3 is driven to irradiate light having an ink curing action. The recording head 1 ejects ink while moving in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium 7,
After one line is recorded by the serial scan on the upper part, it stops at a predetermined place.

After the recording of one line, the intermediate transfer body 2
By moving the recording portion of the next line by a predetermined amount in the transport direction indicated by the arrow so as to face the recording head 1, recording is performed in the same manner. During this recording, light from the first light irradiating device 3 is irradiated to the recording portion of the intermediate transfer body 2 opposite to the recording head 1, and the inks adhering to the intermediate transfer body 2 due to the curing reaction of the ink. Are prevented from occurring on the image (beading, bleeding) caused by the combination of.

While the recording of the serial scan is continued, the ink recorded on the intermediate transfer member 2 is irradiated with light from the first light irradiation device 3 and the second light irradiation device 6 while reaching the transfer roller 4. Irradiation gradually increases the viscosity, and is adjusted to a desired viscosity at the time of transfer. The ink on the intermediate transfer body 2 that has reached the transfer roller 4 is transferred to the recording medium 7 with a desired glossiness described later, and the recording is completed.

After the transfer of the ink, the ink remaining on the intermediate transfer member 2 is removed by the cleaning blade 5a of the cleaning means 5 and the rake sheet 5b. Thereby, the intermediate transfer member 2 is cleaned, and preparation for the next recording is completed.

(Control of Glossiness of Image) In this embodiment, the control of glossiness of an image is performed as follows. In the case of normal glossiness, the ink is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 2 and then separated into the recording medium 7 and the intermediate transfer member 2.

Here, when all the ink has been transferred to the recording medium 7, the glossiness of the ink on the recording medium 7 becomes high, and the ink becomes a mirror surface similar to the surface of the intermediate transfer body 2. Further, the ink remains on the intermediate transfer body 2 (in a so-called tear-off state).
When the transfer is performed, the glossiness of the ink on the recording medium 7 becomes low and the ink becomes glossless.

The glossiness of the ink at the time of the transfer depends on the viscosity of the ink on the intermediate transfer body 2 at the time of the transfer, particularly the viscosity of the portion in contact with the intermediate transfer body 2. When the viscosity is high, a mirror surface is formed because the intermediate transfer body 2 is separated together with the part to be transferred in contact with the recording medium 7, but when the viscosity is low, a tearing state occurs and the gloss is lost. in this way,
By controlling the viscosity of the ink at the transfer section in contact with the intermediate transfer body 2, the glossiness of the transferred image can be controlled.

In the present invention, the amount of light emitted by the first light irradiation device 3 alone is suppressed, and the viscosity of the ink on the intermediate transfer body 2 is suppressed, so that the gloss is not imparted when transferred to the recording medium 7. Set to. Then, by controlling the light emission amount of the second light irradiation device 6, the glossiness of the ink when transferred to the recording medium 7 is adjusted. That is, when it is desired to increase the gloss of the ink, control is performed to irradiate the light by the second light irradiating device 6.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the recording apparatus, in addition to the first light irradiation device 3, the intermediate transfer member 2
Since one second light irradiating means for irradiating light to cure the ink at a desired timing at a desired location is provided, it is small and inexpensive, and has more freedom in not only the presence or absence of glossiness but also the degree of glossiness. , And can record an image that meets the user's preference.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a basic configuration of the recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(Control of Glossiness of Image) The second light irradiation device 6 as the second light irradiation means in the first embodiment described above.
In addition, the second light irradiation device 9 is disposed on the intermediate transfer body 2.
The second light irradiation device 9 is an array device (for example, an LED device array) in which a large number of light emitting elements are arranged on a substrate, and ON / OFF control of light emission can be freely performed by a control unit (not shown). It is possible to emit light at a desired timing.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the first light irradiating device 3, two second light irradiating devices 6 and 9 for irradiating the intermediate transfer member 2 with light are provided. The number may be three or more.

As described above, in this embodiment, in the recording apparatus, in addition to the first light irradiating device 3, a plurality of second light irradiating means for irradiating a desired place with light for curing the ink at a desired timing are provided. Because of the provision, the glossiness can be freely controlled in three or more levels, and an image can be recorded in accordance with the user's preference.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 shows the second light irradiation device 8.
FIG. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

(Control of Glossiness of Image) In the above-described embodiment, the second light irradiating device has a large number of light emitting elements disposed on a substrate. The two-light irradiation device 8 includes a laser diode 8a as a light generation unit that generates light, a collimator lens 8b,
Polygon mirror 8c as light reflecting means for reflecting light
Lens 8d, and a main scanning motor 8e as driving means for driving the polygon mirror 8c to scan light in the main scanning direction (a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction).

The polygon mirror 8c has a main scanning motor 8e.
And is rotating at a constant speed. The light beam emitted from the laser diode 8a by this rotation is reflected on the mirror surface of the polygon mirror 8c, and is scanned at a constant angular velocity. Since the light flux causes a difference in the scanning speed from the center in the scanning direction to both ends on the light-collecting surface as it is, the fθ lens 8d disposed in the intermediate transfer member 2 scans the θ at a constant speed.
The scanning is performed in the direction, and the inner surface of the intermediate transfer body 2 is irradiated. The ON / OFF of the laser diode 8a and the amount of emitted laser light are controlled by a signal from a control unit (not shown).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the second
The light irradiation device 8 includes a laser diode 8a for generating light.
A polygon mirror 8c that reflects light from the laser diode 8a; and a main scanning motor 8e that drives the polygon mirror 8c. The main scanning motor 8e controls the driving of the polygon mirror 8c according to a desired image. Therefore, it is possible to more freely control the glossiness when the ink is transferred to the recording medium 7 according to a desired image, and it is possible to record an image that suits the user's preference. .

(Other Embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the light irradiated from the light irradiation device only needs to have an ink curing action, and light of any wavelength from ultraviolet to infrared can be used. . In this case, the combination of the ultraviolet curable ink and the ultraviolet light is most preferable because the curing speed is the fastest and the ink is easy to handle.

In the above-described embodiment, a serial type ink jet system is employed as a recording system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and has a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording medium that can be recorded by a recording apparatus. The present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head (so-called full multi head).

Such a recording head may have a configuration satisfying its length by a combination of a plurality of recording heads, or a configuration as a single recording head integrally formed.

In addition, even in the case of the serial type described above, the recording head fixed to the carriage or mounted on the carriage enables electrical connection with the apparatus main body and supply of ink from the apparatus main body. A replaceable chip type recording head or a cartridge type recording head in which an ink tank is provided integrally with the recording head itself may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, an LED array and a diode laser have been described as examples of the light source of the light irradiation device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Element, solid light emitting element, etc.) can also be used.

The types and number of recording heads mounted on the carriage are, for example, not only those provided for one color ink but also a plurality of inks having different recording colors and densities. May be provided in plurality. That is, for example, the printing mode of the printing apparatus is not limited to a printing mode of only a mainstream color such as black, and may be a combination of a plurality of print heads integrally formed. To at least one of the full-color devices.

Further, as the form of the above-mentioned ink jet recording apparatus, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, a copy apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function May be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the second
An example in which only one of an array-like device and a device for driving a light reflection unit that reflects light from a laser diode is provided as the light irradiation unit has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. You may use together.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a recording means for discharging ink which is cured by light, and an intermediate transfer means for temporarily holding the ink discharged from the recording means and transferring the ink to a recording medium. And a first light irradiating means for irradiating light for curing the ink provided in the intermediate transfer means, in addition to the first light irradiating means, at a desired location at a desired timing. Since one or a plurality of second light irradiating means for irradiating light for curing the ink is provided, by changing the glossiness according to the type of the image to be recorded, the user's preference can be improved. It is possible to record a suitable image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a basic configuration of a recording apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a second light irradiation device 6 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a basic configuration of a recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a second light irradiation device 8 of a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a conventional recording apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording head 2 ... Intermediate transfer body 3 ... 1st light irradiation device 4 ... Transfer roller 5 ... Cleaning means 5a ... Cleaning blade 5b ... Rake sheet 6 ... 2nd light irradiation device 6a ... Substrate 6b ... Light emitting element 7 ... Recording medium 8 Second light irradiation device 8a Laser diode 8b Collimator lens 8c Polygon mirror 8d fθ lens 8e Main scanning motor 9 Second light irradiation device

Claims (4)

[Claims] A recording means for discharging ink which is cured by light; an intermediate transfer means for temporarily holding the ink discharged from the recording means and transferring the ink to a recording medium; A first light irradiating unit for irradiating light for curing the ink, wherein a second light for irradiating light for curing the ink at a desired timing at a desired location in addition to the first light irradiating unit. A recording apparatus comprising one or more light irradiation means. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second light irradiating unit has a configuration in which a large number of light emitting elements are provided on a substrate. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second light irradiating means includes a light generating means for generating light, a light reflecting means for reflecting the light, and a driving means for driving the light reflecting means. And a driving unit that controls the driving of the light reflecting unit according to a desired image. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means supplies current to the electrothermal transducer in response to a signal, and the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal transducer. A recording apparatus that discharges ink by using a recording medium.