JP3876947B2 - Inkjet recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Field of the Invention]
The present invention relates to a reactive ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by reacting two liquids on the surface of a recording sheet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An ink jet recording apparatus that discharges ink droplets by pressurizing ink in a pressure generating chamber communicating with a nozzle opening by pressure generating means according to a print signal is best to ensure the performance of ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle opening. Since it is an important item, other elements necessary for the recorded material such as water resistance and corrosion resistance must be sacrificed to some extent.
[0003]
However, when photo-like printing is possible, the storability of the printed matter is further required, and it is necessary to improve water resistance and light resistance.
As a means for solving such a problem, the coloring liquid is divided into two elements that can ensure the ejection performance of the ink droplets from the nozzle openings, and each coloring liquid reacts on the recording paper, so that the ejection performance is not deteriorated. Inkjet recording devices with improved storage stability have been put into practical use.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When such a reaction is used, it is desirable that the liquid containing the color former is landed on the recording paper, and then the second liquid is mixed, so that the recording head that discharges the colorant is at the head. However, only printing can be performed, and reciprocal printing is impossible, which causes a problem that the printing speed is lowered.
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to perform printing by mixing two kinds of liquids in a predetermined order on a recording sheet regardless of the moving direction of the carriage. An object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet recording apparatus capable of improving the speed.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, the first inkjet that discharges the first liquid containing the first colorant to the recording medium facing surface of the carriage that reciprocates in the width direction of the recording paper. And a transparent second liquid that reacts with the first liquid and causes the colorant of the first liquid to aggregate and separate, and is disposed on both sides of the first ink jet recording head. A second ink jet recording head, an ink cartridge for storing the first liquid, and an ink cartridge for storing the second liquid, and the carriage of the first ink jet recording head. The second liquid is supplied from one ink cartridge for storing the second liquid to the second ink jet recording head arranged on both sides in the moving direction via a branch path.
[0006]
[Action]
The two recording heads that are disposed on both sides of the recording head that discharges the first liquid as droplets and that discharges the second liquid are switched in accordance with the printing direction, so that the first recording head is arranged in the same order on the recording paper. 1 and 2nd liquid can be mixed.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Therefore, details of the present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiment.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. A carriage 1 is connected to a drive motor 3 by a timing belt 2 and is guided by a guide member 4 and fed by a paper feed motor 5. It can be reciprocated in the width direction.
[0008]
A first ink jet recording head 7 that discharges the first liquid is provided on the surface of the carriage 1 that faces the recording paper 6, and the first liquid reacts with the first liquid at a predetermined interval L on both sides thereof. And second ink jet recording heads 8 and 9 for discharging a transparent second liquid for aggregating and separating the liquid colorant.
[0009]
These ink jet recording heads 7, 8, and 9 include a pressure generation chamber that communicates with the nozzle opening as is well known, and pressurize the pressure generation chamber by the displacement of the piezoelectric vibrator to discharge droplets from the nozzle opening. Further, there is used a device that pressurizes ink by a heat generating means for evaporating ink in a pressure generating chamber and discharges droplets from nozzle openings.
[0010]
Further, on the upper surface of the carriage 1, an ink cartridge 10 containing a first liquid containing a first colorant and a transparent first that reacts with the first liquid and aggregates and separates the colorant of the first liquid. The ink cartridge 11 containing the two liquids is detachably mounted.
[0011]
The first ink cartridge 10 is partitioned into a plurality of chambers 12, 13, 14, and 15 and contains a liquid containing a colorant that develops black and yellow, magenta, and cyan, and ink guide paths 16 and 17. , 18, 19 are connected to the first ink jet recording head 7, and the ink cartridge 11 containing the second liquid is connected to the ink jet recording heads 8 on both sides by the ink guide paths 21, 22 via the branch path 20. , 9.
[0012]
Separation walls 23, 23 that extend in a direction perpendicular to the recording paper 6 and protrude slightly toward the recording paper 6 from the tips of the recording heads 7, 8, 9 are provided on the surfaces facing the recording heads 7, 8, 9. Is provided.
[0013]
In the figure, reference numerals 24, 25 and 26 denote cap members for sealing the recording heads 7, 8, and 9, reference numeral 27 denotes the recording head 7, and reference numeral 28 denotes a blade for cleaning the recording heads 8 and 9. Respectively.
[0014]
In this embodiment, when a drive signal is generated from the drive circuit 30 in response to a print signal from the host, the drive signal is applied to the recording head 7 and the recording head 8 or the recording head 9 by the flexible cable 31. As a result, the first liquid is discharged from the recording head 7 that discharges the first liquid, and the second liquid disposed on the side of the second recording heads 8 and 9 that follows the first recording head 7. 1, for example, the carriage 1 moves to the left in FIG. 1, the second reaction liquid from the recording head 8 lands on the landing point of the first liquid discharged by the recording head 7. It is discharged to the timing total while seeking to. These two types of reaction liquids are mixed on the recording paper, and the colorant contained in the first liquid aggregates to develop color.
[0015]
By the way, when the pressure generating chamber is pressurized and droplets are ejected from the nozzle openings, fine droplets, so-called satellites, are generated in addition to the main droplets, and this is recorded on the airflow caused by the movement of the carriage 1 or the like. Although drifting in the vicinity of the nozzle openings of the heads 7 , 8 , and 9, the recording heads 7 , 8 , and 9 have a certain distance L1, that is, a distance L that prevents a minute droplet from one recording head from reaching another recording head. Since the partition wall 23 is provided between the recording heads, the colorant does not adhere to the nozzle openings and the like, and the deposition of the colorant is prevented.
[0016]
When printing by the movement of the carriage 1 in one direction is completed, the carriage 1 is reversed and the first liquid is ejected from the recording head 7 in accordance with the print data, while the second liquid is set in the follow-up state. The recording head 9 is discharged. Thereby, after the first liquid has landed on the recording paper 6, the second liquid can be discharged to condense and develop the colorant of the first liquid.
[0017]
When the liquid is consumed, the first and second liquids can be replenished with one ink cartridge attachment / detachment operation by exchanging the ink cartridges 10 and 11, respectively.
[0018]
In the above-described embodiment, the description has been made by taking an example of a recording apparatus in which a cartridge is mounted on a carriage. It is clear that there is a similar effect.
[0019]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been made of the use of black and yellow, magenta, and cyan color formers. However, at least for yellow, magenta, and cyan, two types of color formers are used. You can also.
[0020]
Further, in the above-described embodiments, the color formers of all colors are accommodated in the same cassette. However, depending on the type of color developer such as black and color, or black and dark color and light color, for example. It is obvious that the same effect can be obtained even if separated and configured as appropriate.
In addition, although an example in which each color is configured as an ink cartridge has been described, it may be appropriately separated (for example, only black).
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the two recording heads that are arranged on both sides of the recording head that discharges the first liquid as droplets and discharges the second liquid are switched in accordance with the printing direction. As a result, the first and second liquids can be mixed in the same order on the recording paper, and printing in both directions can be performed without causing a change in the coloring condition, thereby improving the printing speed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are an enlarged side view and a front view showing the vicinity of the recording head in the recording apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Carriage 7 Inkjet recording head 8 which discharges 1st liquid, 9 Inkjet recording head 10 which discharges 2nd liquid Ink cartridge 11 which accommodated 1st liquid 11 Ink cartridge 23 which accommodated 2nd liquid

Claims (4)

  A first ink jet recording head that discharges a first liquid containing a first colorant on a recording medium facing surface of a carriage that reciprocates in the width direction of the recording paper, and reacts with the first liquid; A second ink jet recording head that discharges a transparent second liquid for aggregating and separating the colorant of the first liquid and disposed on both sides of the first ink jet recording head; and A second ink jet recording which has an ink cartridge for storing liquid and an ink cartridge for storing the second liquid, and is disposed on both sides of the carriage in the moving direction of the first ink jet recording head; An ink jet recording apparatus that supplies the second liquid from one ink cartridge that stores the second liquid to a head via a branch path.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the ink cartridges is detachably mounted on the carriage.   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the ink cartridges is disposed outside the carriage, and each of the liquids is supplied to the first and second recording heads by an ink supply tube.   The recording medium so that the satellite of the liquid discharged from one ink jet recording head does not reach the other ink jet recording head at the boundary between the first ink jet recording head and the second ink jet recording head The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a partition wall protruding to the side is formed.

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